STRUCTURAL MEMBERS CONTAINING VIBRATION DAMPING MECHANISMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

摘要

Contoured structural members containing vibration damping mechanisms and methods for making the same. The contoured structural members comprise composite or metal materials sandwiching a support or stabilizing structure. The contoured structure can be provided by tube rolling (or roll wrapping) the composite or metal materials and the support structure together and then, if necessary, bonding them or connecting them. With a contoured and generally non-flat structure, applications for the structural members of the present invention are nearly limitless. As well, by incorporating a vibration damping mechanism, the structural impact of oscillations caused by varying mechanical loads is diminished.