Experimental Performance of a Magnetorheological Fluid Damper

Abstract

Magnetorheological (MR) and electrorheological (ER) fluids possess rheological or flow properties that can be controllably altered by the application of electric or magnetic fields, respectively. These fluids typically consist of dispersions of micrometer-sized dielectric or soft ferro (ferri) magnetic particles that become aligned in the presence of an external electric or electrical magnetic field, respectively. Such patterns in the material, which disappear when the field is removed, cause the material to resist mechanical deformation. This controllable property of the fluids allows them to be used in adaptive-passive actuators. This paper presents the results of a preliminary experimental investigation into the performance of the MR fluids in a linear vibration damper. A squeeze-flow MR fluid damper is used to suppress vibrations of a simply supported beam. Four different MR fluids are compared.