Investigations about Frequency Response of Similar Plates with Different Damping Loss Factors

Abstract This work presents an investigation into a scaling method for predicting the dynamic response of a structure based on the known response of a similar structure with a different damping loss factor. In this approach, the damping loss factor is not derived from physical or material properties, but is treated as an external parameter that influences the modal response. The proposed method aims to establish a direct relationship between a reference structure (parent) and a model with a scaled damping loss factor (avatar). The methodology is validated through analytical solutions, finite element simulations, and experimental tests on a rectangular plate undergoing flexural vibrations. The results show that, when the parent and avatar structures share similar modal content, the method can accurately reproduce the dynamic response. The study provides a practical method for predicting the behaviour of structures with varying loss factor characteristics, without the need for detailed modelling of dissipative mechanisms.