Experimental Studies on Damping Characteristics of Bolted Joints for Plates and Shells

Reducing the contact force in bolted structural connections can reduce system vibration amplitudes by enhancing joint damping capacity. A test model consisting of two concentric circular cylindrical shells and four vanes connected by groups of bolts was tested and analyzed to investigate the relationship between the bolt preload and the system damping. A viscoelastic material was then introduced between the contacting surfaces at bolted joints and its effect on system damping was again investigated.