Exact determination of critical damping in multiple exponential kernel-based viscoelastic single-degree-of-freedom systems.

In this paper, exact closed forms of critical damping manifolds for multiple-kernel-based nonviscous single-degree-of-freedom oscillators are derived. The dissipative forces are assumed to depend on the past history of the velocity response via hereditary exponential kernels. The damping model depends on several parameters, considered variables in the context of this paper. Those parameter combinations which establish thresholds between induced overdamped and underdamped motion are called critical damping manifolds. If such manifolds are represented on a coordinate plane of two damping parameters, then they are named critical curves, so that overdamped regions are bounded by them. Analytical expressions of critical curves are deduced in parametric form, considering certain local nondimensional parameters based on the Laplace variable in the frequency domain. The definition of the new parameter (called the critical parameter) is supported by several theoretical results. The proposed expressions are validated through numerical examples showing perfect fitting of the determined critical curves and overdamped regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]