Characteristics of enhanced active constrained layer damping treatments with edge elements, part 1: Finite element model development and validation

This paper is concerned with the enhanced active constrained layer (EACL) damping treatment with edge elements. A finite element time-domain-based model (FEM) is developed for the beam structure with partially covered EACL. The edge elements are modeled as equivalent springs mounted at the boundaries of the piezoelectric layer. The Golla-Hughes-McTavish (GHM) method is used to model the viscoelastic layer. The GHM dissipation coordinates can describe the frequency-dependent viscoelastic material properties. This model becomes the current active constrained layer (ACL) system model as the stiffness of the edge elements approaches zero. Without the edge elements and viscoelastic materials, the purely active system model can also be obtained from the EACL model as a special case. Lab tests are conducted to validate the models. The frequency responses of the EACL, current ACL, and purely active systems predicted by the FEM match the test results closely. Utilizing these models, analysis results are illustrated and discussed in Part (2) of this paper.