Mechanical energy and mean equivalent viscous damping for SDOF fractional oscillators

Abstract: This paper addresses the total mechanical energy of a single degree of freedom fractional oscillator. Based on the energy storage and dissipation properties of the Caputo fractional derivatives, the expression for total mechanical energy in the single degree of freedom fractional oscillator is firstly presented. The energy regeneration due to the external exciting force and the energy loss due to the fractional damping force during the vibratory motion are analyzed. Furthermore, based on the mean energy dissipation of the fractional damping element in steady-state vibration, a new concept of mean equivalent viscous damping is suggested and the value of the damping coefficient is evaluated.