The formation of viscous damping matrices for dynamic analysis of MDOF systems

The paper deals with the representation of dissipative effects by means of equivalent viscous forces. A brief review of the classical analytical treatment of the subject is first presented devoting particular attention to the topics of hysteretic and modal damping. The problem of forming viscous matrices in the case of systems which are non-homogeneous from the point of view of dissipation is then addressed; soil-structure systems are first considered and some accepted techniques for forming the structure contribution to the viscous matrix are reviewed. A different technique is then proposed which avoids some of the drawbacks of the previously quoted methods. In the final section of the paper it is shown how this technique is easily applicable also in the case of systems having internal concentrated dampers of viscous type, this being a situation which is difficult to tackle with usual criteria.