A novel self-powered MR damper: theoretical and experimental analysis. (23rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xinchun, Guan; Yonghu, Huang; Yi, Ru; Hui, Li; Jinping, Ou
• Is Part Of: Smart materials and structures. Volume 24:Number 10(2015:Oct.)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-23
• Subjects: self-adaptive -- MR damper -- energy harvesting -- ball-screw -- core loss effect; Smart materials -- Periodicals; Strucural design -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/24/10/105033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-1726

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents a novel magnetorheological (MR) damper with a self-powered capability, which is proposed to have energy harvesting and MR damping technologies integrated into a single device. Vibration energy harvesting mechanisms were adopted, based on ball-screw mechanisms and a rotary permanent magnet dc generator, to convert the external vibration energy into electrical energy to power the MR damping unit. The configuration and operating principles of the proposed self-powered MR damper were presented. Considering the core loss effect on the magnetic field, a theoretical analysis of the proposed MR damper was carried out and a mechanical model was developed. Finally, a prototype with a capacity of 10 kN was fabricated and experimentally investigated in both the direct-supply mode and the supply-with-rectifier mode. The results indicated that the proposed configuration is feasible and that both modes can realize good self-adaptability of the MR damping force. However, the direct-supply mode has a sag effect in the force–displacement curve and provides a lower energy-dissipating capacity than the direct-supply mode does under the same conditions.