Development of a New Damping Matrices Identification Method and Its Applications

An experimental method to identify damping characteristics of a dynamic system is reported. The method identifies damping matrices of the equation of motion of the system from measured frequency response functions, each different damping mechanism in a distinct matrix. Related experimental techniques and signal processing issues are discussed. Theoretical validation and error study are conducted by applying the method to a theoretical example. The method is applied experimentally to a thin beam with two different damping characteristics for experimental validation and demonstration of the method. Important advantages of the method over existing methods are explained.