Free vibration of co-cured composite structures with different numbers of viscoelastic damping membranes

To determine the damping properties of co-cured composite structures with different numbers of viscoelastic damping membranes, a dynamic analytical model of the structure was established according to a structural geometric equation and a constitutive relationship. Considering the damping performance of the fiber-reinforced layer itself, the natural frequency and loss factor of the structure were calculated using the Rayleigh–Ritz method based on the first-order ZIG-ZAG model. The calculation results were compared with those from the finite element method, and the correctness of the theory verified. The relationship of the natural frequency and loss factor variation with the change of structural parameters was determined.