Experimental investigation of damping properties of unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics by the free decay method

Purpose: of this paper is experimental investigation of damping properties of unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics by the free decay method. Design/methodology/approach: For the evaluation of the presumed effect experimental structural dynamic investigations comparing unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics are carried out. In detail the free decay behaviour of flat beamlike specimens under fixed-free boundary conditions and relatively constant and reproducible displacement excitation is investigated. Findings: The vibrating structure has been measured by a laser scanning vibrometer PSV 400 from POLYTEC. In both cases evaluation of the results yields enhanced damping properties of the specimens with fabric reinforcement compared to the unidirectionally reinforced specimens. The results justify the presumed acting of a mesomechanic kinematic. Research limitations/implications: The results show that in either case the material damping in terms of the logarithmic decrement of the fabric reinforced material is higher than the material damping in of the unidirectionally reinforced material. Additionally, when the fabric reinforced specimens are addressed, in each case the plain weave reinforced specimens exhibited higher values of the material damping as the twill weave 2/2 reinforced ones. Originality/value: Ondulations in fabrics as a textile semi-finished product are caused by the alternating crossing of warp and fill yarns. In the mesoscopic scale the acting of a mesomechanic kinematic is presumed to enhance the damping properties under cyclic elastic deformation. For the evaluation of the presumed effect experimental structural dynamic investigations comparing unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics are carried out.