High Stiffness Passive Damping using Magnetostrictive Particulate Composite Materials

This effort will investigate a recent breakthrough in damping materials developed under AFOSR funding at UCLA for potential application to precision spacecraft component vibration mitigation. The effort will develop improved modeling and componentfabrication techniques for magnetostrictive composite materials. These materials exhibit moderate to high levels of damping via stress-induced domain wall motion within particles cured under magnetic field in a host matrix material. Initial researchsuggests potential as a lightweight, high-stiffness, moderate to high damping multifunctional material. Goal of the reserach is to develop and demonstrate a multifunctional composite material that has both high stiffness and damping levels. Applicationsrange from vibration mitigation in high performance aerospace structures and components to automotive, sporting goods, and other industrial applications.