Single Degree of freedom system (damped)

Logarithmic Decrement
Represents the rate at which the amplitude of a free-damped vibration
decreases. It is defined as the natural logarithm of the ratio of any two successive
amplitudes.
Rate of decay of oscillation
measured by logarithm

2𝜋
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 = 𝑡 =
𝜔𝑑
t1 t2
t1 and t2 denote the times corresponding to two consecutive amplitudes
(displacements) measured one cycle apart for an underdamped system.
Consider Eq.8A for
underdamped system 𝑥 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜁𝜔𝑛 𝑡 sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡 + 𝜙)
𝜔𝑑 = 𝜔𝑛 1 − 𝜁 2
𝑥 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜁𝜔𝑑𝑡/ 1−𝜁 2 sin(𝜔 𝑡 + 𝜙)
𝑑 𝜔𝑑 𝑡 = 𝜆 = 2𝜋

𝑥 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜖𝜆 sin(𝜆 + 𝜙) 𝜁
𝜀=
1 − 𝜁2
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 𝑑𝑥
To obtain maxima =0
𝑑𝜆
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑋𝑒 −𝜀𝜆 . −𝜖. sin 𝜆 + 𝜙 + 𝑋𝑒 −𝜖𝜆 cos 𝜆 + 𝜙 = 0
𝑑𝜆
−𝜖 sin 𝜆 + 𝜙 + cos(𝜆 + 𝜙 ) = 0
𝑒 −𝜖𝜆 ≠ 0 𝑋𝑒 −𝜖𝜆 −𝜖 sin 𝜆 + 𝜙 + cos(𝜆 + 𝜙) = 0

cos(𝜆 + 𝜙 ) = 𝜖 sin 𝜆 + 𝜙

1 sin(𝜆 + 𝜙)
=
𝜀 cos(𝜆 + 𝜙)
1
= tan(𝜆 + 𝜙)
𝜀
1 1 − 𝜁2
⇒ tan λ + 𝜙 = = = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜖 𝜁
⇒ tan 𝜆1 + 𝜙 = tan(𝜆2 + 𝜙) = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Similarly
⇒ sin 𝜆1 + 𝜙 = sin(𝜆2 + 𝜙)
Further more
⇒ sin 𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙 = sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡2 + 𝜙)
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 Ratio of two successive amplitudes

𝑥1 𝑋𝑒 −𝜁𝜔𝑛 𝑡1 sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙)
=
𝑥2 𝑋𝑒 −𝜁𝜔𝑛 𝑡2 sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡2 + 𝜙)
= 𝑒 −𝜁𝜔𝑛 𝑡1+𝜁𝜔𝑛𝑡2
= 𝑒 𝜁𝜔𝑛 (𝑡2−𝑡1)
2𝜋
𝜁𝜔𝑛 ( )
=𝑒 𝜔𝑑
2𝜋
𝜁𝜔𝑛 ( )
=𝑒 𝜔𝑛 1−𝜁 2

2𝜋𝜁
1−𝜁 2 Eq. 10
=𝑒
The natural logarithm (log to base e) of this ratio is called logarithmic decrement, 𝛿, and is
given by
Take natural log on both side of Eq.10
𝑥1 2𝜋𝜁
𝛿 = 𝑙𝑛 = Eq.11
𝑥2 1− 𝜁2

Substituting Eq.11 into Eq.10 gives

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 Single Degree of freedom system (damped)

𝑥1 2𝜋𝜁
𝛿 = 𝑙𝑛 = Eq.11
𝑥2 1− 𝜁2
𝑥1
= 𝑒𝛿 Eq.12 Eq.11
𝑥2

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑞. 11 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒

𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠

𝛿 ≅ 2𝜋𝜁 𝑖𝑓 𝜁 ≪ 1 Eq.13
Eq.13

It can be seen that for values up to the to 𝜁=0.3

curves are difficult to distinguish.
variation of the logarithmic
decrement, 𝛿 with 𝜁

The logarithmic decrement is dimensionless and is actually another form of the

dimensionless damping ratio, once 𝛿 is known 𝜁 can be found

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 Single Degree of freedom system (damped)

The damping ratio 𝜁 can also be found by measuring two displacements

separated by any number of complete cycles
Ratios of consecutive amplitudes are equal so that

𝑥0 𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥𝑛−1
= = = ⋯.= = 𝑒𝛿
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥𝑛
Thus multiplying together

𝑥0 𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥𝑛−1
= …. = (𝑒 𝛿 )𝑛 = 𝑒 𝛿𝑛
𝑥𝑛 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑥𝑛

1 𝑥0
𝛿= 𝑙𝑛
𝑛 𝑥𝑛

where xn represents amplitude after n cycles have elapsed. The logarithmic

decrement is a measure of the damping factor 𝜁 of a system , and it is
independent of the initial conditions.

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Example
A 15 kg mass is supported by a spring of stiffness 80 N/cm and a viscus damper.
When the mass is disturbed and is vibrating freely, the peak amplitudes of three
successive cycles are 54, 21.6, 8.6 mm. Estimate the logarithmic decrement, the
damping ratio, the damping coefficient and the frequency of the vibrations.

Derive an expression for the response of the underdamped system governed by 𝒙ሷ +

𝟐𝜻𝝎𝒏 𝒙ሶ + 𝝎𝟐𝒏 𝒙 = 0 when it is displaced through 𝒙𝟎 , held still and released.

Solution done in class

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