Dynamic torsion of a two-layer viscoelastic beam

The complex dynamic shear modulus of soft polymeric materials may be determined in principle at low and audio frequencies from torsion pendulum and torsional resonance experiments on metal strips coated with the polymer. In order to determine the polymer shear properties from such experiments, it is necessary to know the torsional rigidity of the two-layer compound beam. This is calculated in the paper by using classical elasticity theory, for the particular case when the metal shear modulus is much greater than that of the soft coating. The theory of dynamic torsion tests is then briefly reviewed and experiments are suggested for determining the polymer dynamic shear properties. A discussion is also given of the effectiveness of polymer coatings as a damping treatment for torsional vibrations.