Experimental identification of damping

Four different procedures for identification of damping in mechanical systems are utilized. The procedures are based on results of computational simulations of mathematical models obtained through the finite element method-FEM and experimental procedures based on modal analysis. The rational fraction polynomial method (RFPM) is used to modal analysis. The validation of the numeric models is done through confrontations of computational results and experimental data obtained by accelerometers or proximity sensors. Procedures for reduction of the numeric models are used due to the fact that only few points are used to obtain the experimental values. Three different mechanical systems are analyzed: system of two degrees-of-freedom (two bars in balancing), thin plate clamped in an extremity and free in the other, and electric transmission line cable submitted to an axial load. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.