A method for making a panel for use in an aircraft, said method comprising: coupling a viscoelastic material layer or damping element having a desired structural parameter to a structural substrate, the VEM layer or damping element configured to dampen a vibration of the structural substrate; and coupling a constraining layer to the VEM layer or damping element, the constraining layer configured to apply a shear force to the VEM layer or damping element, wherein the desired parameter associated with VEM layer or damping element has been evaluated by: defining a first structural parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as modulus of elasticity, defining a first operating parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as operating temperature, simulating a first performance of the VEM layer or damping element to generate a first performance data set, which first performance data set is associated with the first structural parameter and the first operating parameter, determining whether the performance of the VEM layer or damping element satisfies a predetermined threshold, by way of comparing the first performance data set to the predetermined threshold to determine whether the first performance data set satisfies the predetermined threshold, which predetermined threshold is a value or set of values that represent a boundary or set of boundaries that distinguish a desired result from an undesired result. coupling a viscoelastic material layer or damping element having a desired structural parameter to a structural substrate, the VEM layer or damping element configured to dampen a vibration of the structural substrate; and coupling a constraining layer to the VEM layer or damping element, the constraining layer configured to apply a shear force to the VEM layer or damping element, wherein the desired parameter associated with VEM layer or damping element has been evaluated by: defining a first structural parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as modulus of elasticity, defining a first operating parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as operating temperature, simulating a first performance of the VEM layer or damping element to generate a first performance data set, which first performance data set is associated with the first structural parameter and the first operating parameter, determining whether the performance of the VEM layer or damping element satisfies a predetermined threshold, by way of comparing the first performance data set to the predetermined threshold to determine whether the first performance data set satisfies the predetermined threshold, which predetermined threshold is a value or set of values that represent a boundary or set of boundaries that distinguish a desired result from an undesired result. defining a first structural parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as modulus of elasticity, defining a first operating parameter associated with the VEM layer or damping element, such as operating temperature, simulating a first performance of the VEM layer or damping element to generate a first performance data set, which first performance data set is associated with the first structural parameter and the first operating parameter, determining whether the performance of the VEM layer or damping element satisfies a predetermined threshold, by way of comparing the first performance data set to the predetermined threshold to determine whether the first performance data set satisfies the predetermined threshold, which predetermined threshold is a value or set of values that represent a boundary or set of boundaries that distinguish a desired result from an undesired result.