ISO 18437-1:2012

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18437-1
First edition
2012-08-15
Mechanical vibration and shock —
Characterization of the dynamic
mechanical properties of visco-elastic
materials —
Part 1:
Principles and guidelines
Vibrations et chocs mécaniques — Caractérisation des propriétés
mécaniques dynamiques des matériaux visco-élastiques —
Partie 1: Principes et lignes directrices
Reference number
©
ISO 2012
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ii © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Measurement principles . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Resonance method . 3
4.3 Cantilever shear beam method . 4
4.4 Dynamic stiffness method . 5
4.5 Estimation of the Poisson ratio . 7
5 Time .
temperature superposition . 9
6 Specimen conditioning . 9
7 Selection of appropriate method . 9
Annex A (informative) Linearity of resilient materials . 11
Annex B (informative) Analysis of other ISO documents on dynamic testing .12
Bibliography .16
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 18437-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 108, Mechanical vibration, shock and condition
monitoring.
ISO 18437 consists of the following parts, under the general title Mechanical vibration and shock —
Characterization of the dynamic mechanical properties of visco-elastic materials:
— Part 1: Principles and guidelines
— Part 2: Resonance method
— Part 3: Cantilever shear beam method
— Part 4: Dynamic stiffness method
— Part 5: Poisson ratio based on comparison between measurements and finite element analysis
iv © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Visco-elastic materials are used extensively to reduce vibration amplitudes in structural systems through
dissipation of energy (damping) or isolation of components, and in acoustical applications that require a
modification of the reflection, transmission or absorption of energy. Such systems often require specific dynamic
mechanical properties in order to function in an optimum manner. Energy dissipation is due to interactions on
the molecular scale and can be measured in terms of the lag between stress and strain in the material. The
visco-elastic properties, modulus, and loss factor of most materials depend on frequency, temperature, strain
amplitude, and pre-strain. In addition to modulus and loss factor, sometimes Poisson ratio is an important
property required for predictions. The choice of a specific material for a given application determines the system
performance. The goal of this International Standard is to provide brief descriptions of the three methods
for elastic modulus and loss factor and two methods for Poisson ratio, the details of construction of each
apparatus, measurement range, and the limitations of each apparatus. This International Standard applies to
the linear behaviour observed at small strain amplitudes.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18437-1:2012(E)
Mechanical vibration and shock — Characterization of the
dynamic mechanical properties of visco-elastic materials —
Part 1:
Principles and guidelines
1 Scope
This part of ISO 18437 establishes the principles underlying ISO 18437-2 to ISO 18437-5 for the determination of
the dynamic mechanical properties (i.e. elastic modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, loss factor, and Poisson
ratio) of isotropic visco-elastic resilient materials used in vibration isolators from laboratory measurements. It
also provides assistance in the selection of the appropriate part of this International Standard.
This part of ISO 18437 is applicable to isotropic resilient materials that are used in vibration isolators in
order to reduce:
a) the transmissions of audio frequency vibrations to a structure that can, for example, radiate fluid-borne
sound (airborne, structure-borne or other);
b) the transmission of low frequency vibrations which can, for example, act upon humans or cause damage
to structures or sensitive equipment when the vibration is too severe;
c) the transmission of shock and noise.
The data obtained with the measurement methods that are outlined in this part of ISO 18437 and further
specified in ISO 18437-2 to ISO 18437-5 can be used for:
1) the design of efficient vibration isolators;
2) the selection of an optimum resilient material for a given design;
3) the theoretical computation of the transfer of vibrations through vibration isolators;
4) information during product development;
5) product information provided by manufacturers and suppliers;
6) quality control.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable
for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 472, Plastics — Vocabulary
ISO 2041, Mechanical vibration, shock and condition monitoring — Vocabulary
ISO 4664-1, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of dynamic properties — Part 1: General guidance
ISO 6721-1, Plastics — Determination of dynamic mechanical properties — Part 1: General principles
ISO 10846-2, Acoustics and vibration — Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of
resilient elements — Part 2: Direct method for determination of the dynamic stiffness of resilient supports for
translatory motion
ISO 23529, Rubber — General procedures for preparing and conditioning test pieces for physical test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 18437, the terms and definitions given in ISO 472, ISO 2041, ISO 4664-1,
ISO 6721-1, ISO 10846-2, ISO 23529 and the following apply.
3.1
Young modulus
modulus of elasticity
E
ratio of the normal stress to linear strain
[2]
[SOURCE: ISO 80000-4:2006, 4.1, modified.]
Note 1 to entry: The Young modulus is expressed in pascals.
Note 2 to entry: The complex Young modulus, E*, for a visco-elastic material is represented by E* = E′ + iE″, where E′
is the real (elastic) component of the Young modulus and E″ is the imaginary (loss modulus) component of the Young
modulus. The real component represents elastically stored mechanical energy, while the imaginary component is a
measure of mechanical energy loss.
3.2
loss factor
ratio of the imaginary component to the real component of a complex modulus
Note 1 to entry: When a material shows a phase difference or loss angle, δ, between dynamic stress and strain in
harmonic deformations, the loss factor is equal to tan δ.
3.3
linearity
property of the dynamic behaviour of a resilient material if it satisfies the principle of superposition
Note 1 to entry: The principle of superposition is stated as follows: if an input x (t) produces an output y (t) and in a
1 1
separate test an input x (t) produces an output y (t), superposition holds if the input αx (t) + βx (t) produces the output
2 2 1 2
αy (t) + βy (t). This holds for all values of α, β and x (t), x (t); α and β are arbitrary constants.
1 2 1 2
Note 2 to entry: In practice the above test for linearity is impractical. Measuring the dynamic modulus for a range of input
levels can provide a limited check of linearity. For a specific preload, if the dynamic transfer modulus is nominally invariant,
the system measurement is considered linear. In effect this procedure checks for a proportional relationship between the
response and the excitation.
4 Measurement principles
4.1 General
The Young modulus of a visco-elastic material is dependent on frequency and temperature. Theoretical details
of the various modes of vibration, types of moduli and commonly used test arrangements are well known, are
adequately covered in ISO 6721-1 and ISO 4664-1, and are not repeated here. ISO 18437-2 to ISO 18437-4
specify three additional methods that are in use to obtain the appropriate test data. Because they are
complementary with respect to their strong and weak points, they are all described in this part of ISO 18437. In
addition, ISO 18437-4 can include the application of static preload. Finally, ISO 18437-5 specifies a method for
determining the Poisson ratio of a material by comparing measurements with finite element calculations. The
four methods described here are limited to the measurement of the linear behaviour of materials observed at
small strain amplitudes.
The conditions for the validity of the measurement methods are:
a) linearity of the vibrational behaviour of the isolator;
2 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved

NOTE The term isolator includes elastic elements with non-linear static load deflection characteristics as long as the
elements show approximate linearity for vibration behaviour for a given static preload.
b) equal distribution of the interfaces of the vibration isolator with the adjacent source and receiver structures;
c) no interaction between the vibration isolator and the surrounding fluid (usually air) medium.
It is possible that condition c) is not fulfilled for vibration isolators made up from an open-cell poro-elastic
material, e.g. foam. For frequencies typically greater than 100 Hz, the interaction of the fluid and solid phases
of the material can be great enough to modify its rigidity and loss.
4.2 Resonance method
4.2.1 Introduction
In the resonance method, the transmissibility (of displacement, velocity or acceleration) of a specimen is
measured with the input side driven by a vibration source and the output loaded by a mass. The magnitude
and phase information, mass specimen density and length provide the data required to determine the complex
Young modulus. Figure 1 shows the principle of the method.
4.2.2 Test equipment
The following test equipment is required:
a) electro-dynamic driver;
b) accelerometers;
c) amplifiers;
d) test stand;
e) environmental chamber;
f) dual-channel spectrum analyser;
g) computer.
4.2.3 Test specimen preparation and mounting
Test specimens are moulded into the shape of a bar that is typically 100 mm long with cross-sectional
dimensions of 6 mm to 7 mm. The specimen cross-section may be square or circular. The length, density and
mass of the specimen shall be determined before the specimen is m
...