Higher-order models for the passive damping analysis of variable-angle-tow composite plates

In this paper, the damped free-vibration and frequency response analysis of variable-angle-tow composite plates embedding viscoelastic layers with frequency-dependent properties are performed. The governing equations are derived from the Principle of Virtual Displacements and higher-order Layer-Wise models are used for the unknown variables description in the thickness direction, furthermore a nine-node finite plate element is employed to solve them. The plate formulation presented in this paper is more efficient with respect to three-dimensional approaches, typically used for this kind of structures, and it is more accurate than existing reduced order methods thanks to the use of the mixed interpolation of tensorial components technique, employed to solve the problem of the shear and membrane locking phenomena. Different multilayered structures have been considered, laminated with unidirectional cross-ply layers or with curvilinear fibers path ones. The use of viscoelastic soft sheets permits to have a passive damping of the structural vibration. The frequency dependent properties of the viscoelastic materials are described through the use of a Kelvin-Voigt model. Numerical solutions are presented for the analysis of variable-angle-tow composites with different boundary-conditions and various lamination schemes.