Experimental analysis of an advanced composite material (Machine Augmented Composite: MAC) for enhancement of both passive damping and stiffness has studied. This composite is composed of a pre-buckled wall structure (machine) placed within a viscoela...
Experimental analysis of an advanced composite material (Machine Augmented Composite: MAC) for enhancement of both passive damping and stiffness has studied. This composite is composed of a pre-buckled wall structure (machine) placed within a viscoelastic matrix. The machine can contain viscous fluids for additional energy dissipation. Dynamic properties such as tanδ and loss modulus (E") were measured over a frequency range of 0.1 to 100㎐ through load controlled cyclic testing. Measured tanδ and loss modulus values for the composite were higher than those of matrix alone in the 1 to 40㎐ range. A sandwich structure MAC was also fabricated and tested with the same testing conditions and this modified composite showed 11 times higher stiffness than the matrix without loosing the matrix damping property.