The present study addresses the effect of attached mass on dynamic properties of composite laminate plates, under flexural vibration, for clamped-free-free-free boundary conditions. Furthermore, factors influencing the effect of attached mass on natural frequencies of laminate composite are studied using the Taguchi method. The considered factor parameters are: attached mass weight, attached mass locations from the clamped edge, staking sequences, and number of layers. The results of this study indicate that the dynamic characteristics of the laminate composite plates are sensitive to the attached mass, where the natural frequencies are found to be inversely proportional to the mass weight. The results was found that the locations of the attached mass and number of layers were the most important factors affecting the natural frequencies, where the location of the masses fell into the antinodes and into the nodal area of vibration, respectively. In addition, the paper presents a good correlation between the numerical results obtained by the ANSYS software and those obtained experimentally.

Nowadays, the use of composite materials has taken a large place in civilian industries as well as in military and aerospace industries. Therefore, significant investigations about their mechanical and physical properties are needed. The present study addresses the effect of attached mass on damping ratio of symmetric angle ply laminate composite. Furthermore, factor influencing the effect of attached mass on damping ratio of laminate composite are studied using Taguchi method. The considered factors parameters are: attached mass locations from the clamped edge, stacking sequences and boundary conditions. The results of this study indicate that the damping ratio of the laminate composite plates is sensitive to the attached mass, where the damping ratio is found to be proportional to the locations of the attached mass. The findings of this study indicate that the attached mass decreases frequency parameter and increase the damping ratio of the composite plate, if it is inserted at a point other than a nodal line. In addition, the paper presents a good correlation between the numerical results of the fundamental frequency obtained by the ANSYS software and those obtained experimentally.