The problem of updating the damping matrix from incomplete modal experiment
al data is considered, It is assumed that the mass and stiffness matrices a
re accurate, or have been updated before. Hence the suggested model updatin
g procedure is restricted to the damping matrix while the normal system and
its modal parameters do nor change, The first step is modification of the
complex eigenvectors so that they satisfy the governing orthogonality condi
tions for damped systems. Using an approximation of these conditions a clos
ed form solution is obtained. With the modified eigenvectors, the damping m
atrix is updated using the reference basis approach. Two solutions are give
n. One for the case of accurate eigendata, and a second, less sensitive to
errors, for corrected, yet inaccurate, eigenvectors. The proposed method is
demonstrated by means of two examples.