Computational dynamics approach to the effect of damping on stability of a cantilevered column subjected to a follower force

The paper discusses on the basis of computational approach the effect of small damping on the theoretical flutter bounds of a cantilevered column subjected to a follower force. A cantilevered viscoelastic column having a tip mass is considered. The impulse responses of the column are studied by the mode superposition method to observe the growth rate of the motion. It is established that the growth rate of the motion of the nonconservative column with a larger but small size of damping is greater than that with the smaller. It is demonstrated that the gap between the flutter predictions made by considering and neglecting damping can be bridged by assuming the practical concept of stability, the stability in a finite time interval.