The main purpose of this study is to experimentally evaluate the dynamic performance of a semi-active Tuned Vibration Absorber (TVA) with a Magneto-Rheological (MR) damper. To this end, a test apparatus was built to represent a two-degree-of-freedom primary structure model coupled with a MR TVA. The primary structure mass, which is modeled with steel plates, was excited by a hydraulic actuator through four air springs. The air springs represent the stiffness of the primary structure and offer the ability to change the stiffness. The semi-active TVA consists of a steel plate, a MR damper, and four coil springs for physical representation of the mass, the damping element, and the stiffness of the TVA, respectively. Mounted on top of the primary structure, the TVA is connected to the primary structure plates by hardened linear bearing shafts. A series of transducers along with a data acquisition system was used to collect sensory information and implement real time control of the MR TVA. Using this test rig setup, a parametric study was performed to analyze the dynamics of the semi-active TVA and to compare the performance of the semi-active TVA with a passive TVA. Displacement based on-off groundhook (on-off DBG) control was used as the control policy for the semi-active TVA. In the parametric study, the effects of on/off-state damping of the MR damper were investigated and compared with a passive TVA to analyze the relative benefits of a semi-active TVA. When damping increased in the passive TVA, the two resonant peaks merge into one peak, and the peak grows. This indicates that the primary structure and TVA are linked together, disabling the TVA, and it eventually magnifies the vibrations. For a semi-active TVA, however, the two resonant peaks decrease as on-state damping increases (keeping low off-state damping), indicating reduction of vibrations. It is shown that semi-active TVAs outperform passive TVAs in reducing the peak transmissibility, implying that semi-active TVAs are more effective in reducing the vibrations of the primary structure.
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