Abstract

In this study of the free vibration of multilayer thick cylinders, the medium is modeled by laminated linear viscoelastic cylinders of an infinite extent. The analytical modeling is based on three-dimensional wave propagation utilizing constant complex elastic moduli. The solution is achieved by determining the displacements and stresses for each interface and by complying with requirements at the interfaces. A propagator matrix relating the boundary displacements to boundary stresses is developed. Dimensionless natural frequencies and modal loss factors for different circumferential and axial wave numbers are determined. The validity of the proposed method is verified by comparing the results for one-, two-, and three-layer elastic cylinders with properties similar to those reported for an equivalent single layer.