The damping performance of aluminum-based composites

Metal-matrix composites may offer better damping properties than unreinforced alloys. Because damping properties (and metal-matrix composites) are becoming important in airframe design, the damping capabilities of a number of aluminum-matrix composites were measured over a wide range of frequencies at low strain amplitudes, using a new laser vibrometer technique. Silicon carbide and alumina reinforcements resulted in a material with damping properties similar to that of unreinforced aluminum 6061-T6, but unidirectional and planar-random graphite continuous-fiber reinforcements increased the damping by 5 and 14 times, respectively. The increased damping of the continuous fiber composites is attributed to the absence of interfacial reaction resulting from the high-pressure infiltration method used for their manufacture.