When X: displacement, k: dynamic spring constant, c: viscous damping coefficient, m: mass, 1 freedom degree of frequency response function H (ｊΩ) vibrated by external force F is as follow:

When|H|² _max: max value of amplitude for frequency response function, Ω₀ : angular frequency, Ω₁ ,Ω₂: vibration frequency at the point of half |H|² _max near Ω₀, loss factor is as follow:

It is common on actual test to obtain damping performance according to resonance frequency f ₀   to read frequency f ₁,f ₂  which is less 3dB from the peak value of frequency response function.

*Loss factor obtained from half width method using imaginary number of frequency response function

It is calculated by the above calculation(η = K( f ₂ - f ₁ )/f ₀ )according to the half width value(1/2 not 1/√21) of the imaginary number for the apparent mass (force/acceleration). When all imaginary number of F/a is “minus” and the bottom value is –X to input acceleration into CH A and force into CH B on FFT, f ₁ , f ₂ is calculated by the following value (if inputting the signal conversely, both imaginary numbers doesn’t correspond):

(It is same correction value as MAG of frequency response function)

*Loss factor obtained from half width method using real number of frequency response function

Affected by the external force, 1 degree of freedom system generates steady state vibration. Without the external force the vibration is getting attenuated, the envelop curve of vibration amplitude represents

It is called as the reverberation time method. These methods are used for small attenuation. To display the damping vibration wave through logarithmic amplifier such as level recorder, it can be represented as the straight line in proportion to envelop curve. The decay ratio is calculated by the slope of straight line. Hilbert transform makes it possible to obtain the decay ratio.

The slope of straight line should not be adopted at the right after starting attenuation or at the point of close to the fixed value of the damping vibration wave. In case it is not clear straight line due to the lower level of vibration mode, the filtering takes place.
When the amplitude χ_n, χ_n+1 under the damping sin wave, the natural logarithmic value is called as logarithmic decrement, which represents the damping capacity of metallic material.

Impedance method is useful for the measurement of loss factor under large attenuation. The amplitude for mechanical impedance (F/V) udder 1 freedom degree system as |z|, |z| = c according to  , impedance represents viscous damping coefficient. V means vibration velocity.
Therefore, the loss factor is calculated as

Strictly speaking, the mass, m is calculated through μ∫W_i² dx ( μ equal to mass per unit length,W_i  equal to  criterion function under i times vibration mode). The loss factor can be also calculated through mechanical compliance. When 1 freedom degree system is vibrated by force( f =  f₀ e^jwt ), the compliance represents spring as g(1+ η j) 

The loss factor is calculated by half value method using the ratio of acceleration sensor 1 : 2 as above.

Half value method and decay ratio method is resonance method, which the loss factor is measured at or near the resonance point. While the method here is measured by arbitrary frequency. The edge of long beam is buried in sand, the other edge is vibrated by shaker. Then, the loss factor is calculated by the wave length λ (m) of the standing wave or travelling wave occurred on the beam and vibration damping d (dB/m).