Damping Test Methodologies

Charles Moritz, Blachford Inc.

Tom Lewis, Damping Technologies, Inc.
Richard Fridrich, Fridrich Acoustical Consulting
2
Damping Not Dampening
Damping Test Methodologies
3
Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Damping Test Methodologies
4
Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Roof
Damping Test Methodologies
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Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Roof
Doors
Damping Test Methodologies
6
Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Roof
Doors
Brakes
Damping Test Methodologies
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Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Roof
Doors
Brakes
Aircraft
Fuselage
Damping Test Methodologies
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Where is damping used?
Cars & Trucks
Floor
Dash panel
Roof
Doors
Brakes
Aerospace
Fuselage
Engine Nacelle
Spacecraft
Damping Test Methodologies
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Where is damping used?
Damping Test Methodologies
Photo courtesy American Acoustical Products
Marine
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Where is damping used?
Appliances
Sinks
Etc.
Damping Test Methodologies
11
Damping Test Methodologies
Damping Test Methodologies
It is important to have techniques to:
Rank order the effectiveness of alternate damping
materials
Evaluate new materials
Characterize damping materials for modeling
Provide information for specifications
12
Equations of Motion
Spring mass damper system
t j
m
Fe sx
dt
dx
R
t d
x d
m

= + +
2
2
Steady State Solution
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
) (

s
m j R j
Fe
x
m
t j

R
m

s
m
x(t)
F(t)
13
Steady State Solution
If you know the force input and response, you
can measure the damping but only at
resonances
Measurement of the transfer function at resonance is
the basis for many damping measurement
techniques
Oberst Bar (SAE J 1637, ASTM E-756)
Center Point (I SO 16940)
Modal Analysis
Damping Test Methodologies
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
) (

s
m j R j
Fe
x
m
t j
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Transient Solution
) cos(
2
u + =

t Ae x
d
t
m
R
m

A and u depend on the initial conditions

Systems with low damping take a long time to
reach steady-state
Damping can be determined from the transient
solution by exciting a system at resonance and
measuring the decay time
Damping Test Methodologies
15
Geiger Plate SAE J 671
Excite a 20 x 20 x 1/4 thick steel plate at its
resonance (100-200 Hz) and measure the
decay time
Photo courtesy Kolano and Saha Engineers
Damping Test Methodologies
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Geiger Plate
Can examine how various application strategies
affect damping
Substrate is thicker than in many applications so
the results may not compare well
Damping is determined at one frequency and
temperature based on the decay rate
Complex Modulus information is not obtained
Damping Test Methodologies
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Temperature/ Frequency Dependence
Damping Test Methodologies
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
-35 -15 5 25 45
Temperature (C)
C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e

L
o
s
s

F
a
c
t
o
r
200 Hz 400 Hz 800 Hz
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Oberst Bar - SAE J 1637/ ASTM E-756
Clamp Beam
Exciter
Damping Test Methodologies
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Oberst Bar - SAE J 1637/ ASTM E-756
Sample FRF with Low-Level Damping
Damping Test Methodologies
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Oberst Bar - SAE J 1637/ ASTM E-756
Sample FRF with Increased Damping
Damping Test Methodologies
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Oberst Bar - SAE J 1637/ ASTM E-756
Calculations are more complex than Geiger Plate
Damping is determined at several frequencies
Test equipment can be placed in an environmental
chamber for damping measurement at various
temperatures
ASTM E-756: measure dynamic mechanical properties
such as the material loss factor and complex
modulus by measuring both bare and damped bars.
Results can be used for making predictions
Damping Test Methodologies
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Center Point I SO 16940
Developed to measure the damping in
laminated glass
Technique is now utilized for many types of
materials
Photo courtesy Kolano and Saha Engineers
Damping Test Methodologies
23
Center Point I SO 16940
Using an impedance
transducer measure the
force and response of the
beam at resonance
Measure the damping based
on the transfer function
Can determine the composite
loss factor, bending,
rigidity modulus, and
flexural rigidity ratio
Photo courtesy Kolano and Saha Engineers
Damping Test Methodologies
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Center Point I SO 16940
Can also be expanded to plates to measure the
damping from non-traditional materials such
as fibrous materials or floor systems
Damping Test Methodologies
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Modal Analysis
Used to measure the response of a structure to
various inputs
Figures courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University
Damping Test Methodologies
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Modal Analysis
Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell
Kettering University
Need to make sure the response is
due to a structural resonance
Measurement of the actual
application
Analysis software may not be
optimized for damping and user
adjustments may be needed
Difficult to measure the response
at different temperatures
Damping Test Methodologies
27
Summary
Damping is used in many applications
Current test methods provide for rank ordering, new
material evaluation, material properties for modeling,
etc.
Real-world damping materials add mass and stiffness as
well as damping making it difficult to evaluate in-situ
Damping Characteristics vary by temperature and
frequency
Trends due to difficulties in measuring actual applications
indicate increased use of math modeling and greater
demand for damping material properties
Damping Test Methodologies