Vibration-based identification of mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials

Recent scientific advancements in field of automotive, electronics, micromechanical systems, pipe technologies, have led to new technologies where the use of lightweight, tough, soft and high deformable materials has become ubiquitous. In this scenario, viscoelastic materials have spread in many different contexts, from seals to bio-inspired adhesives, because of their superior damping and frictional properties. For an appropriate use of such materials, however, the proper knowledge of their mechanical properties is a basic requirement. In this paper we present an innovative easy-to-use approach for determining the viscoelastic modulus, based on the experimental vibrational identification of viscoelastic beams of different lengths. A very simple setup and instrumentation are utilized for acquisitions, and an accurate analytical model of the beam is considered to determine the viscoelastic modulus, which takes into account multiple relaxation times of the material.