perturbation method for the vibration analysis of beams and plates with free-layer damping treatments

The feasibility of using structural modification techniques to determine the effect of added viscoelastic damping treatments on the modal properties of a distinct eigenvalue system and a degenerate system is investigated. Linear perturbation equations for the changes introduced into the system eigenproperties are derived and applied to several examples involving the flexural vibration of beams and square plates with varying degrees of damping treatment. Both large and small perturbations are considered. An FEM code has been developed to compute the dynamic system parameters which are subsequently used in an iterative method to determine the modal properties. The perturbation approach described can accommodate temperature and frequency-dependent material properties, and the procedures involved are illustrated in the examples considered. Results obtained for these examples are compared with those available from closed form or finite element solutions, or from experiments. Excellent agreement of the results of the present method with those of other contemporary methods demonstrates the validity, overall accuracy, efficiency and convergence rate of this technique. The perturbation approach appears to be particularly well suited for systems with temperature and frequency dependent material properties, and for design situations where a number of damping configurations must be investigated.