Topology Optimization of Passive Constrained Layer Damping with Partial Coverage on Plate

TLDR: In this article, the authors used topology optimization as a tool to optimize the passive constrained layer damping (PCLD) layouts with partial coverage on flat plates, where the objective function is defined as a combination of several modal loss factors solved by finite element-modal strain energy (FE-MSE) method.

Abstract: The potential of using topology optimization as a tool to optimize the passive constrained layer damping (PCLD) layouts with partial coverage on flat plates is investigated. The objective function is defined as a combination of several modal loss factors solved by finite element-modal strain energy (FE-MSE) method. An interface finite element is introduced to modeling the viscoelastic core of PCLD patch to save the computational space and time in the optimization procedure. Solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method is used as the material interpolation scheme and the parameters are well selected to avoid local pseudo modes. Then, the method of moving asymptote (MMA) is employed as an optimizer to search the optimal topologies of PCLD patch on plates. Applications of two flat plates with different shapes have been applied to demonstrate the validation of the proposed approach. The results show that the objective function is in a steady convergence process and the damping effect of the plates can be enhanced by the optimized PCLD layouts.