eBook Why is damping important for construction?

Damping and vibration isolation Damping is essential for vibration control in construction. With a high loss factor, cork is an excellent damping material, increasing safety and comfort in buildings and infrastructures. What is damping? Damping is the dissipation of vibration energy in solid mediums and structures over time and distance. Similar to the absorption of sound in air, damping occurs whenever there is any type of friction that diminishes movement and disperses the energy. Examples of damping Some simple examples provide a better understanding of the concept of damping: Imagine rolling...

This is what happens with the spring hinges of a door or drawer, where damping prevents major impact when they are opened/closed, preserving them and protecting the system. On a large scale, bridge deck damping systems have the same purpose. To avoid situations of resonance effect, various solutions have been studied, two main measures are part of the vibration isolation concept: • changing the structure’s natural frequency, altering the load and its distribution, ensuring a sufficient gap between the natural frequency of the structure (f0) and the exciting disturbing frequency (fn). Typical...

Many vibration problems can be addressed using a simple physical model, known as the spring-mass system. If the mass is disturbed from the equilibrium position by a brief external force, it will have a natural frequency of f0. The range of this vibration disappears over time, based on the spring damping function, described as the mechanical loss factor (ƞ). Damping can be measured by: • vibration range reduction in the resonance phase; • temporal variation in free vibrations; • spatial reduction of forced vibrations. Fading behavior of a free vibration displacement x Deflection x Of these three...

Cork as a damping material Due to its closed, cellular structure, filled with air, cork has a higher loss factor than rubber, which is essential for damping and consequent energy dissipation. Our specific polymer formulations and the addition of cork, with its unique compressibility and recovery features, enhance the material’s high loss factor. Isolation Active systems Damping Passive systems Elastomers Foams Recycled rubber Cork rubber Acousticork range mechanical loss factor (ƞ) Material * Temperature, frequency and load dependent The Acousticork Vibration Isolation range from Amorim Cork...

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