Analysis and Optimization of Damping Properties of Constrained Layer Damping Structures with Multilayers

Abstract

Constrained layer damping (CLD) structures, which are one of the composite structures with a softer viscoelastic material (VEM) layer sandwiched between a elastic base layer and a relatively stiffer constraining layer, are widely used in engineering applications for reducing vibration and noise radiation. To accurately predict and effectively control vibration and properly and quickly determine the design parameters, optimal designs for the CLD structures are necessary. The optimal designs depend on thoroughly understanding the damping characteristics of the CLD structures. In addition, for some cases, CLD structures with multi-constrained VEM layers are needed to suppress vibration more effectively. In this paper, an effective modeling method to accurately describe the damping properties and a quick optimization design method using COMSOL were proposed for CLD structures with multilayers in detail. The effects of nondimensional thickness ratios of the VEM and constraining layer to the base layer on the damping properties of CLD structures were analyzed. For CLD structures with different configurations, different constraints were selected to obtain the maximized damping in the optimization design. The conclusions from this research provide an insight into the effects of thicknesses of VEM and constraining layers on the damping properties of CLD structures regardless of its size. The modeling and optimal methods using COMSOL in this paper are not limited to CLD structures and can be used by other structures also.

Efficacious constrained layer damping of carbon black‐reinforced nitrile butadiene rubber‐polyvinyl chloride blend vulcanizates: A comprehensive study

“…[20][21][22][23] Reports on their analysis at the system level (CLD or FLD) representing the real-time scenario of their application is rather scanty. [24][25][26] Prediction of vibration damping can be carried out using either closed-form solutions or the finite element method (FEM) with the aid of commercial software for numerical analysis. 9,[27][28][29] FEM has emerged as a robust tool for numerical modal analysis and harmonic analysis of vibrating substrates and systems integrating CLD.…”

“…However, most of the studies on VEMs reported in the literature pertain to their evaluation of loss factors from DMA 20–23 . Reports on their analysis at the system level (CLD or FLD) representing the real‐time scenario of their application is rather scanty 24–26 . Prediction of vibration damping can be carried out using either closed‐form solutions or the finite element method (FEM) with the aid of commercial software for numerical analysis 9,27–29 .…”

An inquiry into the uncertainty mechanism: The influence of the number of layers in multilayered damping materials on composite loss factor

“…When the modulus of the constraint layer is small, the composite loss factor of the constrained damping structure decreases slightly as the number of layers increases. Wang et al 18 studied the influence of constraint layer thickness on the damping characteristics of constrained damping structures using finite element method. They found that increasing the thickness of constraint layer actually increases the constraint shear force, thereby improving the damping performance of constrained damping structures.…”