A method for predicting the damped dynamic characteristics of thick co
mposite laminates and plates is presented. Unified damping mechanics r
elate the damping of composite plates to constituent properties, fiber
volume ratio, fiber orientation, laminate configuration, plate geomet
ry, temperature, and moisture. Discrete layer damping mechanics for th
ick laminates, entailing piecewise continuous displacement fields and
including the effects of interlaminar shear damping, are described. A
semi-analytical method for predicting the modal damping and natural fr
equencies of thick simply-supported specially composite plates is incl
uded. Applications demonstrate the validity, merit, and ranges of appl
icability of the new theory. The applications further illustrate the s
ignificance of interlaminar shear damping, and investigate the effects
of lamination, thickness aspect ratio, fiber content, and temperature
.