Understanding Damping

Techniques for Noise

and Vibration Control

By Jennifer Renninger
Applications Engineer
E-A-R
Indianapolis, Indiana
Introduction only resonant motion. Forced, nonreso-
Effective control of noise and vibra- nant vibration is rarely attenuated
tion, whatever the application, usually by damping, although application
requires several techniques, each of of damping materials sometimes has
which contributes to a quieter environ- that effect because it increases the
ment. For most applications, noise and stiffness and mass of a system.
vibration can be controlled using four
A damping treatment consists of any
methods: (1) absorption (2) use of
material (or combination of materials)
barriers and enclosures (3) structural
applied to a component to increase its
damping and (4) vibration isolation.
ability to dissipate mechanical energy.
Although there is a certain degree of It is most often useful when applied to
overlap in these classes, each method a structure that is forced to vibrate at
may yield a significant reduction in or near its natural (resonant) frequen-
vibration and noise by proper analysis cies, is acted on by forces made up of
of the problem and application of the many frequency components, is subject
technique. The principles behind the use to impacts or other transient forces,
of absorption materials and heavy mass or transmits vibration to noise-
barrier layers are generally understood, radiating surfaces.
so this paper will focus on the third
Although all materials exhibit a certain
and fourth methods, which deal with
amount of damping, many (steel, alumi-
reducing structural vibration.
num, magnesium and glass) have
Structural Damping so little internal damping that their
Structural damping reduces both resonant behavior makes them effective
impact-generated and steady-state sound radiators. By bringing structures
noises at their source. It dissipates of these materials into intimate contact
vibrational energy in the structure with a highly damped, dynamically
before it can build up and radiate as stiff material, it is possible to control
sound. Damping, however, suppresses these resonances.

Page 2
 Of the common damping materials in heat-liquefied material that hardens
use, many are viscoelastic; that is, they upon cooling. Energy is dissipated as
are capable of storing strain energy a result of extension and compression
when deformed, while dissipating a of the damping material under flexural
portion of this energy through hystere- stress from the base structure. Damping
sis. Several types are available in sheet increases with damping layer thickness.
form. Some are adhesive in nature Changing the composition of a damping
and others are enamel-like for use material may also alter its effectiveness.
at high temperatures.
An example of the effectiveness of
Free-layer or extensional damping is an extensional damping treatment is
one of the simplest forms of material shown in Figure 2. The curves represent
application. (See Figure 1.) The material five extensionally damped systems. In
is simply attached with a strong bond- 1 30
ing agent to the surface of a structure. A
Alternatively, the material may be
B

ESTIMATED NOISE REDUCTION, dB

SYSTEM LOSS FACTOR AT 1000 Hz

troweled onto the surface, or the

structure may be dipped into a vat of 0.1 C 20

Damping Material D

0.01 E 10
Base Layer

STEEL THICKNESS, IN.

A B C D E
Extension 1/32 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2

0.001
0 20 30 40 50
TEMPERATURE, C
Bending (Flexure)
Resulting From Vibration
Figure 2
Figure 7: Extensional Damping
Figure 1
The relationship between system loss factor,
A free-layer damping system is the simplest estimated noise reduction and temperature for
form of damping material application. Energy several free-layer damping systems is shown by
is dissipated as result of extension and com- these curves. The damping material type and
pression of the material under flexural stress thickness (3/16-inch) are the same in each case.
from the base structure.

Page 3
 each case, the damping sheet is 3/16-inch than the bending wavelengths of the
thick, whereas the steel base layers are vibration being radiated as sound. The
from 1/32- to 1/2-inch thick. From such effect of temperature is clearly seen.
data, it is possible to obtain the overall The peak noise reduction for the 1/2-inch
system loss factors (measure of energy steel plate occurs at a lower temperature
dissipated per radian of vibration at than for the 1/32-inch plate.
resonance) and the resulting estimated
Constrained-layer damping (CLD)
“large” panel impact noise reduction—
systems are usually used for very stiff
the reduction in noise level that results
structures. (See Figure 3.) A “sandwich”
from damping a panel that is being
is formed by laminating the base layer
struck many times per second. Large,
to the damping layer and adding a third
in this case, means that the panel
constraining layer. When the system
dimensions are equal to or greater
flexes during vibration, shear strains
develop in the damping layer. Energy
Damping is lost through shear deformation, rath-
Adhesive Constraining Layer Layer
er than extension, of the material.

System loss factors and estimated

Base Layer (Substrate) noise reductions for several CLD steel
systems are shown in Figure 4. For a
Adhesive Damping
Constraining Layer Layer given base layer thickness, the values
obtained are significantly higher than
those in Figure 2, although the damping
Shear
material properties and thickness are
Base Layer (Substrate)
identical. Further, varying layer thick-
ness ratios permits optimizing system
Figure 8: Constrained Layer Damping
Figure 3 loss factors for various temperatures
without changing the material’s
A constrained-layer damping system is
composition, Figure 5.
usually recommended for stiff, structural
applications. Energy is dissipated as a result The constraint method is not critical as
of shear deformation of the damping layer.
long as there is adequate surface-to-sur-
face pressure. The layers may be bolted

Page 4
 or riveted instead of glued into a sand- or deterioration.
wich and still provide optimum perfor-
Structural damping, whether extensional
mance. Adhesives, if used, must have a
or constrained-layer, provides an at-the-
high shear stiffness. Shear strains in the
source solution to noise control problems.
adhesive will reduce the strains in the
Further, it is not always necessary to use
damping layer, reducing its effective-
100 percent panel coverage to achieve
ness.
significant noise reductions. For exam-
Another advantage of CLD systems ple, 50 percent coverage will provide a
is that they can be used in harsh envi- noise reduction that is
ronments. The damping layer is totally typically only 3 decibels (dB) less than
covered by the top constraining layer, for 100 percent coverage; 25 percent
so it typically is not subject to abrasion
1 30
1 30

ESTIMATED NOISE REDUCTION, dB

SYSTEM LOSS FACTOR AT 1000 Hz
ESTIMATED NOISE REDUCTION, dB
SYSTEM LOSS FACTOR AT 1000 Hz

0.1 20
0.1 20
0.188 IN.
B
A

STEEL THICKNESS, IN.

DAMPING LAYER
A B THICKNESS, IN.
0.250 0.125
0.500 0.007
0.250 0.063
1.00 0.500 0.125
2.00 1.00
0.01 10
0.01 10
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 10 20 30 40
TEMPERATURE, C
TEMPERATURE, C

Figure 4 Figure 5

The relationship between system loss factor, The relationship between system loss factor,
estimated noise reduction and temperature for estimated noise reduction and temperature
several constrained-layer damping systems is for varying damping layer thicknesses in
shown by these curves. The damping material several constrained-layer systems is shown
type and thickness (3/16-inch) are the same in by these curves. In each case, constraining
each case. layer and base layer are 1/4-inch-thick steel.
The damping material is the same in all cases.

Page 5
coverage is only 6 dB less. When 40

properly used, damping can be as cost

30
effective as it is acoustically effective.
Vibration Isolation 20

TRANSMISSIBILITY, dB
This method reduces the transmission RUBBER ISOLATOR
LIGHTLY DAMPED
10
of vibrational energy from one system
UNISOLATED SYSTEM
to another. Common vibration isolators 0
are steel springs, rubber pads or
HIGHLY DAMPED
bellows. These devices are available 10 ELASTOMER
ISOLATOR
in many shapes and are capable of
20
isolating masses weighing from a
RESONANCE POINT
few pounds to thousands of pounds. 30
LOG FREQUENCY, Hz
An automobile suspension is a good
example of damped isolation. Shock Figure 6
absorbers dissipate energy by pumping
Transmissibility curves compare the vibra-
a fluid through orifices that offer a tion isolation performance of two materials.
predetermined resistance to high- Data indicate that the highly damped elasto-
velocity flow. Many isolation systems mer
is the better choice for a machine isolation
use elastomeric materials to provide
mount. Note that the amplification of the
both the spring force and damping. elastomer isolator is only 3.5 dB at the
Some rubbers are capable of achieving resonance point compared to 23 dB for
useful damping at certain frequencies, the rubber isolator.
transmissibility. Typical transmissibility
although at low frequencies most exhib-
curves, as shown in Figure 6, compare
it loss factors less than 0.2, or roughly
the vibrational acceleration response of
10 percent of critical damping. At res-
materials used in isolation applications.
onance, when a system dissipates the
As the damping in a material increases,
same amount of energy per radian as it
the system amplification response can
stores, it is said to be critically damped.
be minimized at or near the natural fre-
Loss factor is equal to the percentage of
quency. This can be especially beneficial
critical damping divided by 50.
in applications such as stepper motors,
One way to compare the behavior of which must run through a variety of
various isolators is to measure their frequencies, or those applications that

Page 6
frequently go through a start up or source can be realized by careful plan-
slowdown as part of the operation cycle. ning, thoughtful design, and proper
In applications with little or no damp- choice of materials and structures spe-
ing, amplification can reach as high as cifically engineered for the task.
23 dB, which would be a magnification
This technological state of the art in
factor of 14.2.
damping materials and systems is such
Uncontrolled resonant motion in a that it is possible to design products that
device’s isolation mounts can have operate more quietly, with less vibration
results ranging from acceptable to and greater precision, without being
catastrophic, depending on the necessarily more expensive or difficult
operational properties of the to build.
components involved. Undamped
mounts have internal resonances that
conduct considerable high-frequency
vibrational energy from a device to
its support structure. The large forces
developed at and near resonance can
easily damage internal components or
even tear a device from its mounting.
Conclusion
The bottom line in noise and vibration
control, as in virtually all other engi-
neering efforts, is cost-effectiveness,
which translates into achieving work-
able, inexpensive solutions to complex
problems. Maximum advantages of
reducing noise and vibration at the

Page 7
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(327-4332)
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