Novel strain energy dissipation mechanism for composite joint structure

Susan E. Mercy; John Richard House; Ian D. Grant

doi:10.1117/12.349792

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2 June 1999 Novel strain energy dissipation mechanism for composite joint structure

Susan E. Mercy, John Richard House, Ian D. Grant

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Proceedings Volume 3672, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Passive Damping and Isolation; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349792
Event: 1999 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1999, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

The conventional method for reducing structureborne vibrations is by the application of parasitic viscoelastic claddings. To be effective that cladding needs to extensive, it adds weight to the structure and is often costly to apply and maintain. An effective strain energy dissipation method is described that is applicable to fiber reinforced structures and is localized to stiffeners or joints. An example is described for composite box section stiffeners that are typical of those employed in ship construction. It is shown that the stiffeners can be a point of very high vibrational mobility and that use of a viscoelastic insert embedded at its root can provide a very effective means of dissipating vibrational energy. Thus it is possible to provide a high degree of structural damping, with minimal weight increase, that avoids extensive cladding and forms an integral part of the structure. The principle of the viscoelastic insert is described together with its physical dynamic characteristics. Experimental data is provided that compares the use of the viscoelastic insert on a stiffened composite beam structure to a conventional beam without inserts. An experiment is described where each beam had three similar stiffeners and vibrational transfer function data was measured across each stiffener. It is shown the viscoelastic insert can provide substantial strain energy dissipation for both compressional and flexural waves and that it acts as effective acoustic sink. The implications for noise reduced composite structure, damage tolerance and fatigue are also discussed.

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Susan E. Mercy, John Richard House, and Ian D. Grant "Novel strain energy dissipation mechanism for composite joint structure", Proc. SPIE 3672, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Passive Damping and Isolation, (2 June 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349792

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