Understanding Viscoelastic Damping and Treatments Using Typical Adhesive Materials
Analytical tools are now available to engineers and product designers challenged with the task of reducing the radiated noise and vibration levels of structures.
The radiated noise and vibration characteristics of manufactured goods are a common concern for most product designers as they strive to provide products that are "whisper quiet." The average consumer has become keenly aware of these issues. The perception that a quieter or smoother-running product is one of higher quality has become a reality to the average consumer today.
Product noise and vibration issues are often generated by the vibrating surfaces of sheet metal components that exhibit low levels of inherent material damping. Source excitation transmitted via an airborne and/or structure-borne path acts to excite dynamic instabilities, or resonances, of these components, often amplifying levels to an excessive amount. This lightly damped, resonant behavior may cause actual high cycle fatigue and failure of critical components or simply result in the presence of unwanted vibration or radiated noise detected by the consumer.