Material and structural damping is required in many applications wherein suppression of unwanted dynamic displacements can be critical. While active control can provide such suppression, the complexity and cost penalties associated with active systems reduce their attractiveness. Passive material and structural damping can provide significant benefits. The research is aimed at identifying the potentials of an innovative mechanism for inducing passive damping. A classical method for inducing damping in a structural element is the use of patches of constrained visco-elastic material (VEM). The VEM dissipates energy as it is dynamically stressed. In the conventional approach, both the VEM and the structure added to induce stresses therein are parasitic additions. The innovation addressed is in the method for inducing stress within the constrained VEM while retaining high structural efficiency. By tailoring the elastic properties of composite structural materials, stress can be induced within the VEM to enhance system damping while maintaining required stiffness properties. The innovation also allows for multiple VEM layers within a structural element allowing for damping over extended frequency and temperature ranges. The initial phase of the research will address materials for use in truss type structures, but the innovation can be applied to a range of structural elements creating opportunities for competitive advances in noise and vibration control; e.g., for machinery, transportation vehicles, civil structures, etc.
