Development of a single-layer finite element and a simplified finite element modeling approach for constrained layer damped structures

A new finite element (FE) is formulated based on an extension of previous FE models for studying constrained layer damping (CLD) in beams. Most existing CLD FE models are based on the assumption that the shear deformation in the core layer is the only source of damping in the structure. However, previous research has shown that other types of deformation in the core layer, such as deformations from longitudinal extension, and transverse compression, can also be important. In the finite element formulated here, shear, extension, and compression deformations are all included. As presented, there are 14 degrees of freedom in this element. However, this new element can be extended to cases in which the CLD structure has more than three layers. The numerical study shows that this finite element can be used to predict the dynamic characteristics accurately. However, there is a limitation when the core layer has a high stiffness, as the new element tends to predict loss factors and natural frequencies that are too high. As a result, this element can be accepted as a general computation model to study the CLD mechanism when the core layer is soft. Because the element includes all three types of damping, the computational cost can be very high for large scale models. Based on this consideration, a simplified finite modeling approach is presented. This approach is based on an existing experimental approach for extracting equivalent properties for a CLD structure. Numerical examples show that the use of these extracted properties with commercially available FE models can lead to sufficiently accurate results with a lower computational expense.