In this paper the authors investigate the performance of an energy harvesting MR damper (EH-MRD) employed in a semi-active vibration control system (SVCS) and used in a single DOF mechanical structure configuration. Main components of the newly proposed SCVS include the MR damper and an electromagnetic vibration energy harvester based on the Faraday's law (EVEH) that converts vibration energy into electrical energy and delivers electrical power supplying the MR damper. The main objective of the study is to indicate that the SVCS, controlled by the specially designed embedded system, is feasible and presents good performance at the present stage of the research. The work describes investigation the unique features of the EH-MRD, i.e. its self-powering and self-sensing capabilities. Two cases were considered and the testing was done accordingly. In the case 1, only the self-powered capability was investigated. It was found out that harvested energy is sufficient to power the EH-MRD damper and to adjust it to structural vibration. The results confirmed the adequacy of the SVCS and demonstrated a significant reduction of the resonance peak. In the case 2, both the self-powering and self-sensing capabilities were investigated. Due to the self-sensing capability, the SCVS does not require any sensor. It appeared that thus harvested energy is sufficient to power the EH-MRD and enables selfsensing action since the signal of voltage induced by EVEH agrees with the relative velocity signal across the device. Similar to case 1, the resonance peak is significantly reduced.

The paper deals with an MR damper-based vibration reduction system with energy harvesting capability. The main part of the system creates an MR damper and a power generator based on an electromagnetic transduction mechanism, which are integrated into a stand--alone device (so called energy harvesting MR damper). The main objective of the work is to evaluate performance of the proposed vibration reduction system employed in a single DOF mechanical structure. The material outlines the design structure and characteristics of the energy harvesting MR damper, presents the vibration reduction system based on this damper and explores experimental testing of the system implemented in a single DOF mechanical structure. To demonstrate that the devised system is feasible, performance figures maps completed by experimental data are shown.

This study investigates a newly developed positioning system based on a rotary magnetorheological damper with power generation capability, comprising an electromagnetic power generator (energy extractor) generating electrical power, an magnetorheological damper which alters the damping characteristics of the system and an electrical interface, connected in between the coil of the generator and the damper control coil, which conditions the voltage output from the generator. Structural configurations of the damper and the generator are outlined, and the results of their testing and the testing done on the entire system are summarised, covering the tests conducted with and without the interface, under the idle run and under load in the assumed velocity range. The objective of the work is to examine the performance of the proposed positioning system through experiments. Results of the system testing in the uncontrolled case (passive system) and in the controlled one (semi-active system) in a purpose-built test rig are compared and discussed. Three design options of the electrical system controlling the damper are explored. In the first option, the damper is assumed to be controlled starting from the initial moment of the motor shaft’s motion, and in the second option, the control action begins at the instant when the motor shaft assumes the present position. The third variant is similar to the first one except that an additional condenser is connected behind the Graetz bridge. The results confirm the adequacy of the developed positioning system and demonstrate an improvement in control of the system’s dynamic behaviour.

The experimental setup has been developed for laboratory testing of electromechanical energy transducers and rotary magnetorheological (MR) dampers. The design objectives are outlined and the parameters of the key elements of the setup are summarised. The structure of the mechanical and measurement and control systems is presented. Results of functional testing of a newly developed transducer and a MR rotary damper are summarised

The study covers the modeling three-layered beam incorporating a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. The beam finite element model was created using the ANSYS software. The beam comprises two outer layers made of aluminium and MR fluid layer in between, sealed with silicone rubber. Interactions of the magnetic field are taken into account by varying the parameters of the finite elements. Data required for identification were collected from results of measurement of the beams free vibrations. The identification procedure assumes the good agreement between the frequencies of the beams free vibrations and dimensionless damping coefficients obtained from research and computation data. The validity of proposed beams finite element model was also investigated. Finally some numerical results were presented.