Length of an unconstrained viscoelastic damping layer on beams is determined to maximizeloss factor using a numerical search method. The fractional derivative model can describe damping characteristics of viscoelastic damping materials accurately, and is used to represent nonlinearity of complex modulus with frequencies and temperatures. Equivalent flexural rigidity of the unconstrained beam is obtained using Ross, Ungar, Kelvin[RUK] equation. The loss factors of partially covered unconstrained beam are calculated by a modal strain energy method. Optimal lengths of the unconstrained viscoelastic damping layer of beams are identified with ambient temperatures and thickness ratios of beam and damping layer by using a finite-difference-based steepest descent method.