A new method for measuring damping in flexural vibration of thin fibers

摘要

In this paper we describe a new method for measuring damping in flexural vibration of filamentous matter, such as polymeric or metallic fibers. This method enables us to measure the damping characteristics of very thin fibers (down to lateral dimensions of a few micrometers). The fiber sample is clamped at one extremity and excited in the flexural vibration mode of a cantilever beam configuration, using a piezoelectric actuator. While the fiber sample vibrates around a flexural eigenfrequency, structural damping is determined from the measurement of the curve of phase difference between excitation and motion. This technique does not require the amplitude of the fiber motion to be determined. The phase curve is inferred from the periodic disturbance occurring when the fiber acts as a shutter for a light beam. This method can be applied to fibers of arbitrary shape and material. Examples are shown of measurements with polymer and metallic fibers. Flexural damping is evaluated at atmospheric pressure and in vacuum. The technique is validated by a comparison with polypropylene damping measurements from standard dynamic mechanical thermal analysis techniques.