Objectives　The　paper　aims　to　develop　a　theory　model　of　clamped　layered　structures　for　parameter　study　of　a　mechanical　damper.　The　model　can　be　applied　to　many　cantilever　friction　cases　such　as　general　shape　cantilever　beams,　different　material　cantilever　beams,　different　cross-section　beams,　non-uniform　thickness　beams,　etc.　Methods　The　paper　combined　with　theoretical,　finite　element　and　experimental　analysis　using　hysteresis　loop　method　to　study　a　number　of　vital　parameters　such　as　neutral　surface　distance　ratio　of　two-layer　beam,　in-plane　friction　force　at　the　interface,　concentrated　load　applied　at　the　free　end,　tip　displacement　and　relative　slip　governs　the　damping　capacity　of　the　two-layer　beam.　Results　Under　different　neutral　surface　distance　ratio　of　two-layer　beam,　the　loss　factor　of　structure　increases　and　then　decreases　with　further　increase　in　the　force　ratio　of　concentrated　load　and　in-plane　friction　force.　When　force　ratio　is　equal　to　0.133　and　neutral　surface　distance　ratio　is　equal　to　1,　the　loss　factor　reaches　maximum　(0.424).　Conclusions　The　results　suggest　that　under　different　neutral　surface　distance　ratio,　as　force　ratio　reaches　the　best　value,　the　loss　factor　achieves　maximum.　The　work　tends　to　assist　the　designers　to　evaluate　the　damping　capability　of　beams　to　maximize　it　as　per　the　requests　in　the　actual　application.