Finite element heat transfer analysis of viscoelastic damper for wind applications

A finite element approach for analyzing the thermal-structural coupling eff ects of the viscoelastic dampers subjected to steady-state excitation is pr esented. Nonlinear viscoelastic properties due to temperature rise in the v iscoelastic material are considered in the analysis. Examples given in the paper illustrate that the finite element approach can properly predict the temperature distribution in the damper and can be used as a practical desig n tool. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.