Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Optimization of Vibration Damping in Epoxy-Based Nano Cement Composite Dampers for Sustainable Structures

Traditional cement-based materials often fall short in delivering both high mechanical strength and effective vibration damping. Although nano-modified composites have shown promise, a gap remains in understanding the interaction between nanofillers and polymeric phases in epoxy-based cement systems. This study investigates the development of epoxy-based cement composite dampers with enhanced mechanical strength and vibration damping for structural applications. The composite integrates nano-SiO2 and graphene to improve the energy dissipation, structural integrity, and long-term performance. A comprehensive experimental and mathematical modeling approach was employed to evaluate the storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factor (tan δ) using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). The results indicated that incorporating 2.0 wt.% nano-SiO2 and 0.05 wt.% graphene leads to an optimum increase in both mechanical and damping properties, achieving a 92% enhancement in compressive strength and a 38% improvement in damping factor compared to conventional cement composites. Beyond this optimal composition, agglomeration effects reduce the reinforcement efficiency. Microstructural investigations using TEM and EDX confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of the nanofillers, leading to enhanced matrix densification and improved interfacial bonding. A validated mathematical model was proposed to predict viscoelastic behavior, correlating well with experimental findings. These results highlight the potential of epoxy-based cement composites for high-performance damping applications in sustainable infrastructures.