3D printed viscoelastic dampers and methods of making
Dampers made from polymers modified with nanomaterials (e.g. carbon nanotubes). This novel viscoelastic material has significantly improved damping characteristics making nano-modified polymers excellent materials for viscoelastic dampers, including highly customizable materials and geometries tailored to achieve good damping properties and proper shear stiffness and shear capacity.
1 . An energy dissipation mechanism for dissipating a force during a loading event comprising: a first plate and opposingly located second plate; a dampener located in between said first and second plates; said dampener is configured to deform nonlinearly when a load is applied to dissipate energy;
said dampener is interlocked with said first and second plates;
said dampener includes a plurality of flanges;
said first and second plates including a plurality of openings that match the configuration of said flanges;
said flanges seat within said openings to interlock said dampener with said first and second plates
each of said flanges include a rounded distal end that seats within openings having the same rounded shape; and
said flanges configured to rotate within said openings when a load is applied.
2 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 1 wherein each of said flanges include a rounded distal end, and said openings of said first outer plate, said second outer plate, and said inner plate have the same rounded shape of said flanges, and said flanges configured to rotate within said openings when a load is applied.
3 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 2 wherein said inner plater stays in place because of the symmetry of the contact forces acting on it from both sides when a load is applied.
4 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotation of said flanges leads to multiple modes of deformation including uniaxial, biaxial, and shear.
5 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotation of said flanges is in the out-of-plane axis.
6 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotation of said flanges leads to multiple modes of deformation including uniaxial, biaxial, and shear.
7 . The energy dissipation mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rotation of said flanges is in the out-of-plane axis.
8 . An energy dissipation mechanism for dissipating a force during a loading event comprising: a first outer plate and an opposingly located second outer plate; an inner plate located in between said first and second outer plates; a first dampener located in between said first outer plate and said inner plate; a second dampener located in between said second outer plate and said inner plate; said dampeners configured to deform when a load is applied to dissipate energy;
said dampener is a viscoelastic material;
said first dampener is interlocked with said first outer plate and said inner plate;
said second dampener is interlocked with said second outer plate and said inner plate;
said dampeners include a plurality of flanges;
said first and second outer plates and said inner plate including a plurality of openings that match the configuration of said flanges;
said flanges seat within said openings to interlock said dampeners with said first and second outer plates as well as said inner plate,
each of said flanges include a rounded distal end;
said openings of said first outer plate said second outer plate and said inner plate have the same rounded shape of said flanges; and
said flanges configured to rotate within said openings when a load is applied.