Effect of an electromagnetically optimized magnetorheological damper on vehicle suspension control performance

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of an electromagnetically optimized magnetorheological (MR) damper for vehicle suspension on vibration control performance. In order to achieve this goal, a cylindrical MR damper that satisfies design specifications for a middle-sized commercial passenger vehicle is designed using an optimization methodology. The optimization problem is to find the optimal geometric dimensions of the electromagnetic circuit for the MR damper in order to maximize the damping force. A first-order optimization method using commercial finite element method (FEM) software is adopted for the constrained optimization algorithm. After manufacturing the MR damper with optimally obtained design parameters, its field-dependent characteristics are experimentally evaluated. The effect of the optimal MR damper on suspension control is then investigated using a quarter-vehicle test facility. Control performances such as vertical acceleration, suspension travel, and power consumption are evaluated and compared between the initial and optimal dampers. In addition, vibration control performances of the optimal MR damper are experimentally evaluated under bump and random road conditions and presented in both time and frequency domains.

Measurement of temperature-dependent mechanical properties of magnetorheological fluids using a parallel disk shear stress testing device

“…Therefore, MRFs have been implemented extensively in various fields and applications, such as civil engineering, medical machinery, automotive industry, haptics, exercise equipment and servo valves. 8–15…”

“…Therefore, MRFs have been implemented extensively in various fields and applications, such as civil engineering, medical machinery, automotive industry, haptics, exercise equipment and servo valves. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Over the last several years, the temperature effect on the material properties of MRFs and the working performances of MR actuators has been most often investigated. Weiss and Duclos, 16 McKee, 17 and Shi 18 experimentally studied of the influence of temperature on the bulk modulus, plastic viscosity and yield stress of MRFs.…”

Virtual Testing and Experimental Verification of Medium-Duty Truck Driveability and Rideability

“…With increasing adoption of active and semi-active suspensions, several analytical models of these suspensions have been developed. Most of these efforts focused on control algorithm development and used simplified representations to approximate the mechanical characteristics of a vehicle in developing or optimizing the control system [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Multibody-dynamics based models have been widely utilized to represent the mechanical aspect of the vehicle suspensions [11][12][13][14].…”

Temperature-dependent material properties of the components of magnetorheological fluids

“…This remarkable feature has given rise to a large variety of engineering applications of the MR fluid in the fields of torque transmission, vibration control, polishing, and shock absorption to enhance the working efficiency and reduce the energy consumption [11,12]. These application forms include the clutches, brakes, shock absorbers, vehicle suspensions, semiactive vibration dampers, and servo valves [13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”