Damping Mechanics of Composites

Our group pioneered integrated mechanics for the passive damping of composite materials and structures. These models predict damping from the constituents and ply level up to structural response. They are used to design laminates with tailored or enhanced damping and to quantify how damage affects it.

1. Damping mechanics of composite laminates
   • Related Publication(s):
     D. A. Saravanos, C. C. Chamis, “Mechanics of Damping for Fiber Composite Laminates Including Hygro-Thermal Effects”, AIAA Journal, 28(10), 1813–1819, 1990.
     
     D. A. Saravanos, “Analysis of Passive Damping in Thick Composite Structures”, AIAA Journal, 31(8), 1503–1510, 1993.
2. Layerwise damping finite elements for sandwich and thick structures
   • Related Publication(s):
     T. S. Plagianakos, D. A. Saravanos, “High-Order Layerwise Mechanics and Finite Element for the Damped Dynamic Characteristics of Sandwich Composite Beams”, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 41(24-25), 6853–6871, 2004.
     
     T. S. Plagianakos, D. A. Saravanos, “High-Order Layerwise Finite Element for the Damped Free-Vibration Response of Thick Composite and Sandwich Composite Plates”, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 77(11), 1593–1626, 2009.
3. Damping of beams, blades and hybrid multi-damped laminates
   • Related Publication(s):
     D. I. Chortis, D. S. Varelis, D. A. Saravanos, “Prediction of Material Coupling Effect on Structural Damping of Composite Beams and Blades”, Composite Structures, 94(5), 1646–1655, 2012.
     
     T. S. Plagianakos, D. A. Saravanos, “Hybrid Multi-Damped Composite Plates with Viscoelastic Composite Plies and Shunted Piezoelectric Layers”, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 14(1), 2003.
     
     P. Chaviaropoulos et al., “Enhancing the Damping of Wind Turbine Rotor Blades, The Dampblade Project”, Wind Energy, 9, 163–177, 2006.

Applications

• Damping-optimized composite blades and rotors
• Sandwich structures with viscoelastic layers
• Hybrid passive/active multi-damped laminates
• Effects of delaminations on damping