Analytical formulation of optimum material properties for viscoelastic damping

Expressions for stored and dissipated energies in anisotropic viscoelastic bodies are derived using generalized Maxwell models. The relationships between shapes of master relaxation modulus curves and dissipation energy and the latter's influence on passive structural motion control are investigated. The master relaxation modulus curves are analytically generated for parametric variations of initial and relaxed moduli, slopes of the transition region and relaxation time spans. The influences of relaxation modulus shapes and parameters on stored and dissipated energies and on time-dependent deformations under specific loading and environmental conditions are analysed and evaluated. These analytical formulations of 'viscoelastic designer materials' answer questions on how to best manufacture, or select from data banks, materials with optimum properties for specific service requirements including the use of smart viscoelastic damping materials.