Damping in structures

The mechanism causing energy loss, or damping, in structures is discussed, and measurements from full scale structures are used to demonstrate that the conventionally assumed model for damping is incorrect. Fracture at both a microscopic and a macroscopic scale is assumed as the dominant mechanism for energy release and measurements at a microscopic scale are presented to support the argument. The implications of the assumption of fracture as the dominant mechanism are considered and a generalised non-linear damping model is considered as a basis for prediction of damping values at the design stage.