Affiliations: STI Technologies, PCB Group, Rochester, NY 14623,
USA | Department of Aerospace Engineering, The Pennsylvania
State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA | Center for Intelligent Material Systems and
Structures, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Note: [] STI Technologies Inc., 1800 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd.,
Rochester, NY 14623, USA. Tel.: +1 716 424 2010; Fax: +1 716 272 7201; E-mail:
rrusovici@sti-tech.com
Abstract: Protection from the potentially damaging effects of shock loading is
a common design requirement for diverse mechanical structures ranging from
shock accelerometers to spacecraft. High damping viscoelastic materials are
employed in the design of geometrically complex, impact-absorbent components.
Since shock transients are characterized by a broad frequency spectrum, it is
imperative to properly model frequency dependence of material behavior over a
wide frequency range. The Anelastic Displacement Fields (ADF) method is
employed herein to model frequency-dependence within a time-domain finite
element framework. Axisymmetric, ADF finite elements are developed and then
used to model shock propagation and absorption through viscoelastic structures.
The model predictions are verified against longitudinal wave propagation
experimental data and theory.
