For S a positive selfadjoint operator on a Hilbert space, dtd2u(t)+2F(S)dtdu(t)+S2u(t)=0 describes a class of
wave equations with strong friction or damping if F is a positive Borel
function. Under suitable hypotheses, it is shown that u(t)=v(t)+w(t)
where v satisfies 2F(S)dtdv(t)+S2v(t)=0 and ∥v(t)∥w(t)→0,ast→+∞.
The required initial condition v(0) is given in a canonical way in terms of
u(0), u′(0)