The effect of layup and boundary conditions on the modal damping of FRP composite panels

The degree of the modal damping in a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite panel depends on a number of factors including the nature of the layup, the modal deformation, the geometry and the boundary conditions of the panel. In this article, using the theoretical predictions of modal response of a square layered FRP panel, the variation of damping with the plate layup under a combination of clamped and free boundary conditions is studied. Particular attention is paid to the variation of modal damping with the fiber orientation of the two outmost layers of the panel with a view to possibly manipulation of this orientation in order to maximisze the modal damping.