Damping in small scale experimental models

Damping is a parameter which has significant effect on the dynamic response of a system. Tests have been carried out on 2DOF Models, to determine damping ratios by exciting the models in individual modes. The numerical values of the modal damping ratios are then used to determine damping matrix which is needed explicity when dynamic response is obtained by an analytical procedure other than modal analysis. Methods to determine modal damping ratios and to arrive numerically at the equivalent explicit damping matrix are described in detail. Good correlation between the experimental response and the analytical solution demonstrates that such a procedure to determine explicit damping matrix is adequate.