Strain Amplitude Dependence of High Damping Grp/Mg97Zn1Y2 Composites Ranging from Anelastic to Microplastic
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and suggestions for Authors are reported in the attached .pdf file
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: There are several English language errors within the paper that make difficult the comprehension of the text in some parts. The Authors are invited to carefully correct these mistakes in the revised version of this paper. As an example, at line 79 it should be written “Material characterization” instead of “Materials characterization”; again, at line 131 the phrase on stage II is repeated.
Response 1: Thank you for your comments. We have carefully reviewed the language in the manuscript and corrected all errors to facilitate the readers’ understanding of the content.
Point 2: The quality of Figures 4, 5 and 6(b,c,d,e) should be improved (please enlarge all these figures and also the fonts of the corresponding axis labels).
Response 2: Thank you for your comments. According to the suggestion, we have enhanced the quality of Figs. 4, 5, and 6 in the revised manuscript.
Point 3: This paper is focused on damping behaviour of composite materials. However, in the Introduction, the fundamental reason why it is important to study material damping behaviour is not reported. This reason is given by the fact that, in many engineering applications, it is essential to be able to reduce the vibrations of mechanical components, and this is possible both by modifying the geometry of the component and by making it in a highly damping material, such as the one of the present work. Actually, in practical applications, rather than making a component in a single damping material, it is preferred to coat the matrix with multi-layer coatings, made of damping material, which allow to reduce the vibrations due to the friction generated at the interface of the different layers, in the form generally known as “functionally graded material components”.
The Authors are therefore invited to think about this important aspect, emphasizing the importance of the multi-layered functionally graded material composites in order to obtain reduced vibrations by increasing the damping behaviour at the layer interfaces, inserting and discussing in the Introduction some related papers, such as:
a) G. Catania and M. Strozzi, Damping oriented design of thin-walled mechanical components by means of multi-layer coating technology, Coatings, 2018, 8, p.1-21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/coatings80200733058.
b) L. Yu, Y. Ma, C. Zhou, H. Xu, Damping efficiency of the coating structure, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2005, 42, p.3045-3058. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2004.10.033
Response 3: Thank you for your comments. In accordance with your comments, in the introduction section (lines 32–34 and 39–44 in the revised manuscript), we have explained the significance of examining damping materials. In addition, we have cited the recommended studies (references [2] and [5]) to provide comprehensive information.
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript entitled “Strain Amplitude Dependence of High Damping Grp/Mg97Zn1Y2 Composites Ranged from Anelastic to Microplastic” is well written, with the proper English language and appropriate terminology.
The subject matter is scientifically interesting.
Unfortunately, the statistical processing (analysis) is absent and does not adequately document the results. A more complex, thorough and complete discussion is needed in which to compare the results of other studies, but also the results that have emerged from the statistical analysis.
In addition, it needs support with more and more up-to-date recent articles.
Finally, the writing instructions need to be followed, especially in the case of bibliographic references.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: Unfortunately, the statistical processing (analysis) is absent and does not adequately document the results. A more complex, thorough and complete discussion is needed in which to compare the results of other studies, but also the results that have emerged from the statistical analysis.
Response 1: Thank you for your comments. In this study, the damping test was conducted using the DMA Q800 dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer. According to references [7] and [9], the DMA Q800 instrument can obtain stable and credible damping data. We compared and analyzed the damping behaviors of composites under different strain amplitudes. While discussing these aspects , we have cited many references in the paper to derive exhaustive conclusions.
Point 2: In addition, it needs support with more and more up-to-date recent articles.
Response 2: Thank you for your comments. In accordance with your comment, we have cited several recent articles in the revised manuscript, such as references [3] and [8].
Point 3: Finally, the writing instructions need to be followed, especially in the case of bibliographic references.
Response 3: We appreciate your careful review. Due to certain modifications in the article, several references were replaced, and the associated citations were revised to ensure consistency with the writing instructions.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors answered the questions and complied with the proposed changesof the manuscript.
