Damping sources in wood structures

Damping in wood structures is either associated with the material itself or with the joining devices. An experimental study indicates that material damping is relatively independent of wood type and constant in a given environment. Nailed joints can provide additional damping which can be further augmented by special nailing devices. Such devices increase the total damping by more than an order of magnitude. The damping of glued joints depends upon the characteristics of the adhesive. The adhesive can double the damping provided by the wood alone.