Experimental and numerical studies of MR damper with prototype magnetorheological fluid

Purpose: Results of experimental studies of a prototype magnetorheological damper at various magnitudes of control current as well as the manner of modelling electromagnetic phenomena occurring in the damper are presented in this paper. Design/methodology/approach: Model MR fluid was prepared using silicone oil OKS 1050 mixed with carbonyl iron powder CI. Furthermore, to reduce sedimentation, as stabilizers was added Aerosil 200. The observations of the surface morphology of carbonyl iron and fumed silica were carried out using Digital Scanning Electron Microscope SUPRATM25 ZEISS. The effect of magnetic field on magnetorheological fluid is modelled by the finite element method. Findings: The presented model meets the initial criteria, which gives ground to the assumption about its usability for determining the dynamics properties of mechanical systems, employing the finite element method using ANSYS software. Research limitations/implications: The elaborated model can be use for modelling the semi active car suspension dynamics. Originality/value: The actual-non-linear characteristics of magnetisation identified experimentally were used as the values of relative magnetic permeability of the piston housing material. The possibility of application, e.g. real characteristics of material magnetisation and faster and faster calculation machines make possibility the creation of more precise models and more adequate ones to reality.