Damping synthesis from substructure tests

Abstract

A new method is proposed for synthesizing structural damping from substructure test data. It utilizes the off-diagonal coupling terms in the substructure modal damping matrices as well as the diagonal terms which correspond to uncoupled modal damping. The coupling terms are evaluated from complex resonant response measured at each substructure mode. Both analytical and experimental verification of the method have been made. Accuracy requirements on experimental data and data reduction have been established.