The dynamics of dissipative mechanical and structural systems is being investigated at various institutions and laboratories worldwide with ever-increasing sophistication of modeling, analysis and experiments. This book offers a collection of contributions from these research centers that represent the state-of-the-art in the study of friction oscillators. It provides the reader with the fruits of a team effort by leaders in this fascinating field.The topics covered include friction modeling, self-excited friction oscillators, homogeneous frictional systems, unsteady lubricated friction, instantaneous contact geometry, impact damping, friction-induced instability and nonlinear dynamics of stick-slip systems, among other topics.This book gives a comprehensive picture of dynamics of dissipative mechanical and structural systems. It also gives an up-to-date account of the present state of the field. It will be of interest to engineers, rheologists, material scientists, applied mathematicians, physicists and historians of science and technology.Contents:Analysis of a Self-Excited Friction Oscillator with External Excitation (K Popp et al.)The Nonlinear Dynamics of Oscillators with Stick-Slip Friction (B Feeny)Dynamics of Homogeneous Frictional Systems (J Inaudi & J Kelly)Friction and Impact Damping in a Truss Using Pinned Joints (S Folkman et al.)Design of a Friction Damper to Control Vibration of Turbine Blades (J-H Wang)Modeling Unsteady Lubricated Friction (A Polycarpou & A Soom)Readership: Engineers, rheologists, materials scientists, applied mathematicians, physicists and historians of science and technology.Key Features:Includes non-standard topics such as the distinction between true- and quasi-inhomogeneities, the local equilibrium jump relations at discontinuities, and the material description of continuum mechanicsUtilizes numerical experiments to illustrate the strong interaction between the achievements in continuum mechanics and the development of numerical methods