Abstract

This paper is concerned with the added mass matrix for a mechanical structure vibrating in an incompressible liquid. It is shown in particular that this matrix does not depend on viscosity and, from this fact, can be calculated as if the fluid is perfect. The viscous effect on the mechanical system can then be represented by a damping term of type time-convolution. The presence of a flowing fluid around the structure leads to additional damping terms proportional to the fluid density.