Logarithmic Decrement (δ)

Fig.1 Displacement Versus Time Curve for Under Damped System

Logarithmic decrement: Logarithmic decrement is defined as the natural logarithm of the
ratio of successive amplitude on the same side of mean position.
The rate of decay in the amplitudes of under-damped system is measured by the parameter
known as logarithmic decrement.
Rate of decay in amplitudes depends on the amount of damping present in the system. So, if
the damping is more, then the rate of decay will also be more.
Let A and B are the two points on the successive cycles which shows maximum deflection as
shown in Fig 1.
The periodic time; 𝑡𝑝 = 𝑡2 − 𝑡1
2𝜋
𝑡𝑝 =
𝜔𝑑
2𝜋
𝑡𝑝 =
√(1 − 𝜉 2 )𝜔𝑛

The amplitude at time t1 and t2

𝑥1 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉 𝜔𝑛𝑡1 [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙)]

𝑥2 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉𝜔𝑛 𝑡2 [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡2 + 𝜙)]

𝑥2 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉 𝜔𝑛(𝑡1+𝑡𝑝 ) [sin (𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜔𝑑 𝑡𝑝 + 𝜙)]

2𝜋
𝑥2 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉 𝜔𝑛(𝑡1+𝑡𝑝 ) [sin (𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜔𝑑 + 𝜙)]
𝜔𝑑
 𝑥2 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉 𝜔𝑛(𝑡1+𝑡𝑝 ) [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 2𝜋 + 𝜙)]

𝑥2 = 𝑋𝑒 −𝜉𝜔𝑛 (𝑡1 +𝑡𝑝 ) [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙)]

Now taking the ratio, we get;

𝑥1 𝑋𝑒−𝜉𝜔𝑛 𝑡1 [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙)]

=
𝑥2 𝑋𝑒−𝜉𝜔𝑛 (𝑡1 +𝑡𝑝 ) [sin(𝜔𝑑 𝑡1 + 𝜙)]
𝑥1
= 𝑒−𝜉𝜔𝑛(𝑡1 −𝑡1 −𝑡𝑝)
𝑥2
𝑥1
= 𝑒𝜉𝜔𝑛𝑡𝑝
𝑥2
Now the logarithmic decrement is given by;
𝑥1
𝛿 = log 𝑒 ( )
𝑥2
𝛿 = log 𝑒 (𝑒𝜉𝜔𝑛𝑡𝑝 )
𝛿 = 𝜉𝜔𝑛 𝑡𝑝
2𝜋
𝛿 = 𝜉 𝜔𝑛
√(1 − 𝜉2 )𝜔𝑛
2𝜋𝜉
𝛿=
√(1 − 𝜉2 )
The logarithmic decrement can also be determined as follows;
1 𝑥0
𝛿= log 𝑒 ( )
𝑛 𝑥𝑛
Where x0 = amplitude at the starting position, xn = amplitude after ‘n’ cycles