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- In the time-history load case, leave the c M value, but change c K to zero.
- For all materials, set c K to the value originally used in the load case. This is done through the Interactive Database Editor in the Material Properties 06 – Material Damping table under the VisStiff column. Users may also manage properties through the Define > Materials > Advanced Properties option.
- For the softening elements, copy their material, scale c K by a value between 10 -2 and 10 -3, then apply this material locally to the effected affected elements.
Since material damping sums with that specified in load cases, this procedure reduces stiffness-proportional damping only in affected elements, without affecting the rest of the model. Nonlinear material behavior will then serve as the energy-dissipation mechanism.
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