Analysis of high loss viscoelastic composites

Synopsis A theoretical study of viscoelastic properties of composites is presented with the aim of identifying structures which give rise to a combination of high stiffness and high loss tangent. Laminates with Voigt and Reuss structure, as well as composite materials attaining the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds on stiffness were evaluated via the correspondence principle. Similarly, viscoelastic properties of composites containing spherical or platelet inclusions were explored. Reuss laminates and platelet filled materials composed of a stiff, low loss phase and a compliant high loss phase were found to exhibit high stiffness combined with high loss tangent.