Passive vibration control using viscoelastic materials

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to the use of viscoelastic materials as a strategy intended for passive vibration control in mechanical systems. It provides a review of the theoretical foundations underlying the constitutive modeling of the viscoelastic behavior, and the association of constitutive models with modern numerical resolution procedures, especially the finite element method. This currently enables the accurate prediction of the dynamic behavior of rather complex structural systems featuring viscoelastic dampers, duly accounting for the particular characteristics of the viscoelastic behavior, namely the memory effect and the dependence of stiffness and damping properties on frequency and temperature. Other relevant aspects considered are: (i) model condensation techniques, intended to reduce the computation cost involved in the evaluation of the response of viscoelastic structures using finite element models with large numbers of degrees-of-freedom; (ii) the identification of viscoelastic constitutive models from experimental data. In addition, some applications of viscoelastic materials to structures of engineering interest are presented to illustrate the use of some techniques discussed.