Oscillation criteria for second-order nonlinear differential equations with damping

For a second-order nonlinear differential equation with a damping term, we obtain new oscillation criteria without an assumption that has been required for related results reported in the literature over the last two decades. Two approaches refining the standard integral averaging technique suggested in the paper can be used to derive a variety of simpler oscillation theorems for different classes of nonlinear differential equations, and both sets of oscillation criteria established in the paper are of independent interest. Several examples are provided to illustrate the relevance of the new theorems. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.