A new technique for the measurement of the specific damping capacity of beams in flexure

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Abstract
Measurement of specific damping capacity may be an important method for the detection of small cracks in composite materials. Apparatus for the measurement of specific damping capacity of these lossy materials in free-free flexure, without making attachments to the middle of the beam, has been developed. Comparative measurements were also made using a cantilever apparatus. The motions were analysed by solving the classical Bernoulli-Euler wave equation for the appropriate boundary conditions. Results for the free-free apparatus showed the better agreement with predictions since free-free vibration minimises the introduction of extraneous constraints. Results from beams containing different volume fractions of fibres were in agreement with theoretical predictions.