DAMPING OF FLEXURAL VIBRATIONS IN TAPERED RODS OF POWER-LAW PROFILE EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Abstract

The present paper discusses the results of the experimental investigation of a damping system comprising a steel rod of a quadratic profile covered by a strip of absorbing layer located at its sharp tip, as shown in Figure 1. The combined effect of such a geometry and of an additional absorbing layer ensures that such a system represents an efficient way to reduce edge reflections of flexural waves in finite rods. The principle materialised by the above-mentioned combined action is known as the ‘acoustic black hole effect’. This effect has been recently demonstrated experimentally for wedge-like structures of power-law profile, following its theoretical description. As was described in Reference 5, this effect can take place also in rods of power-law profile, with possible applications to damping of impact-generated flexural vibrations in tennis racquets and golf clubs.