Sheet Dampers vs. Spray-On Dampers: Current Status and Prospective Applications

In automotive applications, damping materials are generally adhered to metal panels in order to control vibration at resonant frequency. For decades, pre-manufactured sheet damping products provided robust solutions to improve vehicle acoustics. Today, some OEMs are experimenting with spray-on approach utilizing recent advances in robotic systems and certain progress in materials research. In this paper, the merits of sheet damping vs. sprayable technologies are reviewed. The emphasis is made on the development of new materials with enhanced damping performance, new and multi-functional damping applications, enhanced design approaches, and opportunities that sheet dampers offer when compared to the alternatives.