In this study, the loss factors of an adhesively-bonded double containment cantilever joint were determined for different plate and support lengths. The response of the adhesive joint subjected to a transverse excitation force was measured with a contactless eddy-current sensor and the first bending natural frequency was determined using the Fast Fourier Transform method. The loss factor was calculated using the half-power bandwidth method based on the power spectrum of the joint vibration. After an excitation force was applied to the joint, the damped free vibration analysis was carried out using the finite element method and its measured loss factor. The transverse vibration attenuation was actively controlled with different numbers of actuators located on the top surface of the plate. The optimal control of the vibration attenuation was achieved based on a performance index by considering the strain energy, the kinetic energy, the work done on the adhesive joint by the actuators as well as the vibration attenuation time. Genetic Algorithm was implemented to this optimization problem in which the optimal control force histories, the optimal locations and the optimal numbers of the actuators were searched. Eight actuators exhibited the best control force history minimizing the performance index to 3.34 x 10(-2). Thus, the attenuation time was reduced from 16 s to 0.15 s and the absolute displacement was decreased from 13.1 mm to 17.15 x 10(-3) mm for 0.15 s. In addition, the modal strain energy and kinetic energy were found to be at lowest levels. As the actuator number was increased only a minor decrease in the performance index was observed after four actuators. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009