Abstract
After a short review of the history of the development of the concept of damping, the definitions—one in words, the other in the form of an equation—given in DIN 53513 are discussed, and their usefulness for measurements at various values of prestress is investigated. It is evident that the mathematical definition given in the Standard applies only in the special case when prestress and alternating stress are equal. For the complete range of prestress, the phase angle δ or some simple function of δ, such as the loss factor, tan δ, should be measured. If it is desired not to relinquish the percentage statement of the energy loss, then a new definition for the relative damping is proposed which is independent of the prestress, just as is tan δ. The dependence upon the prestress of the damping values under discussion is demonstrated in an experimental section, for various types of elastomers.