Low Cost Magneto-Rheological (MR) Damper Design and Development for Low Capacity Applications

Abstract

Purpose: For vibration control in an automobile suspension smart damper such as MR damper is used.
Smart materials such as MR fluids act in response to an applied electric or magnetic field with a
remarkable change in rheological performance. Hence nonlinear hysteresis of such devices is a complex
phenomenon and thereby it emphasize on significance of understanding & interpreting the dynamic
behavior of those devices. M R dampers are costly and are not in use by any automobile manufactures in
India. The work involves design and development of MR damper for low capacity applications.
Methods: Computational analysis on the derived values from literature and patent survey is carried out
to develop a prototype of M R damper. Finite Element Analysis was carried out for various damping
forces. Dynamic test was carried out to validate the analytical results obtained for damping force.
Results: Force V/s Velocity and Displacement for different intensity of current, frequency depict that
response of MR damper for external forces is fast and also for different intensity of current and
frequency, MR damper displaces requisite distance to maintain minimum vibration. Total cost of
manufacture of MR damper is Rs. 7102 and it can be reduced further if it is mass produced.
Experimental maximum damping force is very close to the designed maximum damping force of
247.26kN.
Conclusion The FE analysis and also the experimental results proved that magneto rheological damper
designed is proposed to be used for any low force application