Modeling segmented active constrained layer damping using hybrid displacement field

A finite element model for composite plates with active constrained layer damping is developed using hybrid displacement fields. The higher-order displacement field is used in the composite plate to capture the transverse shear deformations. Because viscoelastic layer and piezoelectric layers are made from certain isotropic materials, the first-and the second-order displacement fields are employed in these layers to maintain computational efficiency in solving the problem. The refined displacement fields defined in different material layers are derived by applying the displacement and transverse shear stress continuity conditions at the interfaces of different materials and the traction-free boundary conditions at the top and the bottom surfaces of the structure. The inelastic displacement field method is used to implement the viscoelastic material model to enable time-domain finite element analysis. The finite element model is correlated through NASTRAN-3D finite element static and modal analysis. Detailed numerical studies are presented to assess the influence of number of actuators and their locations for vibration control.