  This paper addresses the total mechanical energy of a single degree of
freedom fractional oscillator. Based on the energy storage and dissipation
properties of the Caputo fractional derivatives, the expression for total
mechanical energy in the single degree of freedom fractional oscillator is
firstly presented. The energy regeneration due to the external exciting force
and the energy loss due to the fractional damping force during the vibratory
motion are analyzed. Furthermore, based on the mean energy dissipation of the
fractional damping element in steady-state vibration, a new concept of mean
equivalent viscous damping is suggested and the value of the damping
coefficient is evaluated.
