A STUDY ON MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID (MRF)

DAMPER

D.V.A. Rama Sastry1, K.V.Ramana2, N.Mohan Rao3

1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, KL University, Vaddeswaram,
ijcrr Guntur
2
R&D, KL University, Vaddeswaram, Guntur
Vol 04 issue 05 3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTUCEK, JNT University,
Category: Research Kakinada
Received on:08/12/11
Revised on:22/12/11 E-mail of Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Accepted on:10/01/12

ABSTRACT
Vibration signals indicate machine‟s health. In most of the cases, it stipulates the requirement
of bringing down vibration intensity to operational limit. Researchers are focusing over
different types of vibration isolators and their optimization in terms of space occupancy,
weight, cost and reliability. In this paper, an attempt has been made to introduce the basic
concepts of Magnetorheological Fluids (MRF) which can be used as a semiactive vibration
isolator, for the beginners and researchers. The scope of MR fluids in future, problems are also
presented.
______________________________________________________________________

Keywords: Semi active vibration isolator, actuators. Semi-active control has been
Magnetorheological fluid, developed as a compromise between
Magnetorheological fluid damper passive and active control. Instead of
opposing a primary disturbance as is the
INTRODUCTION case with active control, semi-active
Vibrations in a machine are unavoidable control scheme applies a secondary force to
due to characterization of kinetic energy. the system. A semi-active control system
Efforts are to be made at the design stage to cannot provide energy to a system
reduce the intensity of vibration to extend comprising the structure and actuator, but it
the life of the machine. Vibration isolation can achieve favorable results by altering
is the procedure by which the undesirable the properties of the system, such as
effects of vibration are reduced. stiffness and damping [1].
The need for vibration isolation is The close attention received in this area in
becoming increasingly important for recent years can be attributed to the fact
precision structures and sensitive high that semi-active control devices offer the
technology equipment. Also it is becoming adaptability of active control devices
vital to design more reliable devices with a without requiring the associated large
higher bandwidth, smaller size, and lower power sources. In addition, as stated
power requirement. earlier, semi-active control devices do not
Semi-active control has recently been an have the potential to destabilize (in the
area of much interest because of its bounded input/bounded output sense) the
potential to provide the adaptability of structural system. Extensive studies have
active devices without requiring a indicated that appropriately implemented
significant external power supply for semi-active systems perform significantly
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better than passive devices and have the magnetization are preferred, because as
potential to achieve the majority of the soon as the field is taken off, the MR fluid
performance of fully active systems, thus should come to its demagnetized state in
allowing for the possibility of effective milliseconds. Due to its low coercivity and
response reduction during a wide array of high saturation magnetization, high purity
dynamic loading conditions [2-5]. carbonyl iron powder appears to be the
Magnetorheological fluids and their main magnetic phase of most practical MR
characteristics fluid compositions. MR fluids have been
Recently, a very attractive and effective prepared based on ferromagnetic materials
semi-active system featuring such as manganese-zinc ferrite and nickel
Magnetorheological Fluid (MRF) dampers zinc ferrite of an average size of 2 μm.
has been proposed by many investigators The robustness and the simple mechanical
[6-8]. Magnetorheological is a branch of design of Magnetorheological (MR)
Rheology that deals with the flow and dampers make them an obvious choice for
deformation of the materials under an a semi-active control device. They require
applied magnetic field. Magnetorheological minimal power while delivering high
(MR) fluids are suspensions of non- forces suitable for fullscale applications.
colloidal (0.05-10 μm), multi-domain, and They are fail-safe since, they behave as
magnetically soft particles in organic or passive devices in case of a power loss
aqueous liquids [2]. They are able to [13].
change reversibly from free-flowing, linear MR devices can be divided into three
viscous liquids to semi-solids having groups of operational modes or a
controllable yield strength under a combination of the three based on the
magnetic field [9]. Their apparent viscosity design of the device [10, 12]. In the
changes significantly (105−106 times) valve/shear mode, of the two surfaces that
within a few milliseconds, when the are in contact with the MR fluid, one
magnetic field is applied. The inert-particle surface moves relative to the fluid. This
forces originating from the magnetic relative motion creates a shear stress in the
interactions lead to a material with higher fluid. The shear strength of the fluid may
apparent viscosity. This dipolar interaction be varied by applying different levels of
is responsible for the chain like formation magnetic field. In the direct shear/flow
of the particles in the direction of the field mode, the fluid is pressurized to flow
as shown in Fig. 1[9]. Particles held between two surfaces which are stationary.
together by magnetic field and the chains The flow rate and the pressure of the fluid
of the particles resist to a certain level of may be adjusted by varying the magnetic
shear stress without breaking, which make field. In the squeeze film mode, two
them behave like a solid. This phenomenon parallel surfaces squeeze the fluid in
develops a yield stress which increases as between and the motion of the fluid is
the magnitude of the applied magnetic field perpendicular to that of the surfaces. The
increases [10]. One of the advantages of applied magnetic field determines the force
MR fluids is the higher yield stress value. needed to squeeze the fluid and also the
Low voltage power supplies for MR fluids speed of the parallel surfaces during the
[11] and relative temperature stability squeezing motion[14].
between –40°C and +150°C make them A magnetic circuit is necessary to induce
more attractive materials for vibration the changes in the viscosity of the MR
isolation. In MR fluids, materials with fluid. By using Kirchoff‟s Law of magnetic
lowest coercivity and highest saturation

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circuits, the necessary number of amp-turns through an annular gap around the
(NI) is electromagnet as shown in Fig. 3(b). This
NI=∑HiLi=Hfg+ Hs L ................ .(1) design uses an accumulator to make up for
where Hf and Hs are the magnetic field the volume of fluid displaced by the piston
intensity of the fluid and the steel, rod which is going into the damper[16]. A
respectively, g is the length of the gap variant to this is a twin tube MR damper
where the fluid flows, and L is the total that has two fluid reservoirs, one inside of
length of the steel path. From equation (1), the other, as shown in Fig. 3(c). In this
it is clear that, to increase the total configuration, the damper has an inner and
magnetic field intensity, the number of outer housing. The inner housing guides
amp-turns have to be kept at a maximum the piston rod assembly, in exactly the
while minimizing the length of the fluid same manner as in a mono tube damper.
gap and the steel path. However, sufficient The volume enclosed by the inner housing
cross-section of steel must be maintained is referred to as the inner reservoir.
such that the magnetic field intensity in the Likewise, the volume that is defined by the
steel is very low. Also, too small a fluid space between the inner housing and the
gap would cause the damping force to be outer housing is referred to as the outer
too high when no magnetic field is applied. reservoir. The inner reservoir is filled with
The magnetic circuit typically uses low MR fluid so that no air pockets exist.
carbon steel, which has a high magnetic However, most of these dampers were
permeability and saturation. This steel intended for large-scale applications such
effectively directs magnetic flux into the as vibration isolation of buildings and
fluid gap. bridges. A linear, double-shaft MR damper
Properties of commercial MR fluids with the electromagnet placed inside the
Basic composition and density of four cylinder is suitable for small-scale
commercial MR fluids are given in Table 1 applications and is intended for use with
and ranking of fluids on the basis of parallel platform mechanisms where a
various material properties are given in damper will adjust the damping in each leg
Table 2[10]. The MR fluids within the pre- connector of the mechanism.The MR
yield region exhibit viscoelastic properties damper utilizes the unique properties of the
and these are important in understanding MR fluid. In this design, the MR fluid
MR suspensions, especially for vibration flows through the annular gap between the
damping applications. housing and the magnetic body as seen in
MR damper Fig. 4. The damper operates in a
Several different designs of MR dampers combination of valve and direct shear
have been built and tested in the past. The modes. A magnetic field is created along
first of these designs is the bypass damper this gap through the use of a coil which is
as shown in Fig.3 (a), where the bypass wrapped around the magnetic body. When
flow occurs outside the cylinder and an the magnetic field is applied, the viscosity
electromagnet applies a magnetic field to of the magnetorheological fluid increases
the bypass duct [15]. While this design has in a matter of milliseconds. The field
a clear advantage that the MR fluid is not causes a resistance to the flow of fluid
directly affected by the heat build-up in the between the two reservoirs. This way, the
electromagnet, the presence of the bypass damping coefficient of the damper is
duct makes it a less compact design. In adjusted by feeding back a conditioned
another design, the electromagnet is inside sensor signal to the coil. Double-ended MR
the cylinder and the MR fluid passes dampers have been used for bicycle

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applications [17] gun recoil applications driven by equipment manufacturers looking
[18], commercial applications [19-21], and to add value to their products through the
for controlling building sway motion introduction of smart fluids. Three areas
caused by wind gusts and earthquakes [22]. where significant developments might be
Problems with MR dampers and future expected can be – automotive, civil and
scope aerospace engineering.
a) Large size MR dampers limit their use
in marine applications due to limited ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
space especially in submarines. Design Authors acknowledge the immense help
of MR dampers small in size needs to be received from the scholars whose articles
further researched. are cited and included in references of this
b) Non-linear behavior of MR dampers manuscript. The authors are also grateful to
makes it difficult to devise control authors / editors / publishers of all those
strategies to control the vibration. articles, journals and books from where the
Studies on this are done by Mao et al. literature for this article has been reviewed
[23]. This effect further needs to be and discussed.
researched.
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Appendix

Table.1 Basic composition and density of four commercial MR fluids [2]

Commercial MR Percent iron by Carrier fluid Density per
Fluid volume g.ml-1
MRX-126PD 26 Hydrocarbon oil 2.66
MRX-140ND 40 Hydrocarbon oil 3.64
MRX-242AS 42 Water 3.88
MRX-336AG 36 Silicone oil 3.47

Table. 2 Ranking of fluids on the basis of various material properties, with „1‟ being
best and „4‟ being worst [2]
MR Fluid τ2/η τ2/ηρ τ/BH Initial Settling Friction Coefficient Temperature range
MRX-126PD 2 2 4 4 1 3
MRX-140ND 3 3 2 3 2 2
MRX-242AS 1 1 1 2 3 4
MRX-336AG 4 4 3 1 4 1
 Fig. 3(c) Twin tube MR damper

Fig.4 Double-shaft MR damper

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