An overcritically-damped system

This demonstration shows the movement rather than the vibrations of an overcritically-damped beam subject to an initial displacement.

Fig. 15-10: Demonstration of an overcritically-damped system

Fig. 15-10 shows two cantilever metal strips representing two cantilever beams. The one on the left is a conventional metal strip and the one on the right uses two metal strips with a layer of damping material constrained between the two strips. Apply the same initial displacement on the free ends of the two cantilevers and release them at the same time. It is observed that the cantilever on the right returns to its original position slowly without experiencing any vibration. This is the phenomenon of an overcritically-damped system described in Section 15.2.1 and Fig. 15-3.