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Damper Properties

Damper elements are only considered in the explicit nonlinear solver. Including damper elements in a modal dynamic analysis gives rise to a completely different problem with complex results. This is not considered in GSA. Dampers follow the same local axis definition as beam, but the exceptions are zero length dampers and nodal dampers. For zero length dampers the local axis is the constraint axis or the first node and for nodal dampers it is the constraint axis of the node

Definition

Name

The name is only used as a convenient way of identifying a damper property.

Type

The type defines the damper as one of:

  • Axial
  • Torsional
  • General

Dashpot constant

The relevant dashpot constant must be supplied. x for an axial damper, xx for a torsional damper and all six for a general damper.

Note about the property axis​

If the property is used by 1D damper elements and the element length is not zero, the axis definition is the same as beam elements, if the element length is zero, i.e. the two nodes of the element are coincide, the nodal constraint axis of the first topology node of the element is used as the damper property axis.  

If the property is used to by a node, the nodal constraint axis of the node will be used as the damper property axis.