A　mechanical　model　of　a　particle　damper　(PD)　was　established　which　has　a　friction　effect　between　the　damper　particle　and　the　damper　cavity.　PD　parameters　can　have　a　significant　effect　on　the　particle　damper＇s　ability　to　control　vibrations.　These　parameters　include　the　coefficient　of　collision　recovery　between　particle　and　cavity,　the　coefficient　of　rolling　resistance　between　particle　and　cavity,　and　the　particle　radius,　all　of　which　affect　the　PD＇s　damping　mechanism　and　performance.　To　address　this　issue,　the　authors　calculated　the　kinetic　energy,　elastic　potential　energy,　damping　energy,　and　input　energy　of　a　single-degree-of-freedom　(SDOF)　mechanical　system　with　a　PD.　The　computational　analysis　utilized　the　energy　method　and　its　development　law.　The　results　show　that　under　the　conditions　studied,　the　damping　effect　of　PD　increases　with　the　decrease　of　the　coefficient　of　collision　recovery　and　the　increase　of　coefficient　of　rolling　resistance,　although　the　influence　of　particle　radius　can　be　neglected.　The　influence　of　PD　and　a　tuned　mass　damper　(TMD)　on　the　damping　effect　was　compared　using　the　same　parameters;　the　TMD　had　a　better　damping　effect　under　resonance　excitation,　whereas　the　PD　had　a　better　damping　effect　under　nonresonant　excitation.　The　mechanical　model　of　the　PD　constructed　in　this　paper　was　verified　by　a　shaking　table　test　for　a　single-layer　steel　frame.　The　damping　effect　of　PD　is　the　result　of　the　comprehensive　influence　of　its　parameters.