Abstract
This paper provides an exact analysis for shear stress of a symmetrical five-layered rectangular rod with damping viscoelastic core layers, and presents the torsional rigidity and loss factor in a closed form. Numerical evaluations of maximum shear stress in both elastic and core layers are carried out and the points of occurrence of the maximum stress are discussed. The layered composition which maximizes the loss factor of the rod clearly exists in accordance with the thickness of each layer and its material constant, and an optimum damping design by means of the rod composition is considered. The temperature having peak value of loss factor shifts with varying core layer thicknesses. The damping design of the rod for the environmental temperature is determined by the optimal adjustment of core layer thicknesses.
