Rayleigh Dissipative Function

[eureka]

Physics people,

what is the theory behind the Rayleigh Dissipative Function? could you kindly give me some website which could help me understand this?

[dg]

All I remember is that you use Rayleigh dissipation function to introduce dissipative (non-conservative) effects like friction, electric resistance etc. into Lagrangian mechanics. The only reference I can give you offhand is Goldstein's Classical Mechanics.

Dario

[eureka]

dg,

thank you very much for the information... :) i'm now reading the goldstein's classical mechanics..