The Effect of a Damping Compound on Jet‐Efflux Excited Vibrations: An Article in Two Parts Presenting Theory and Results of Experimental Investigation PART I THE STRUCTURAL DAMPING DUE TO THE COMPOUND

The theory is presented of the increase in damping that can be obtained when a damping compound is added to a simple structure vibrating in a bending mode. Consideration has been given to the use of ‘Aquaplas’ damping compound on a vibrating stringer‐skin combination, and it has been shown that the maximum damping ratio is obtained when the material is applied to the stringer flange over the centre 40 per cent of the pin‐ended length of the beam. A preliminary experimental investigation is described, in which damping measurements were made on a simple structural specimen treated with Aquaplas. A new method was used successfully to determine the damping ratio of a heavily damped system. The damping properties of Aquaplas were evaluated, and some of the theoretical conclusions were verified. Some of the results obtained indicate that a more accurate mathematical representation must be sought for the visco‐elastic behaviour of Aquaplas than is provided by the ‘complex stiffness’ method.