Design and verification of a magnetorheological elastomer-based vibration isolator with adjustable stiffness

A magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) - based vibration isolator with adjustable stiffness is designed in this work. The core component of the isolator is MRE, whose magneto-induced modulus is altered by controlling the voltage of the coils, thereby adjusting the magnetic field surrounding the MRE to achieve stiffness variation. A new arrangement scheme of MRE utilizing a sliding helical drive is introduced, which converts linear motion into rotational movement, inducing both compression and torsional deformation in the MRE. The magnetic circuit, along with the generation and distribution of magnetic field within the device, is thoroughly analyzed. The structural form and parameters of the device are optimized. A prototype of the MRE-based isolator was developed, and a test rig was built to verify its performance. The results demonstrate that the MRE-based isolator exhibits frequency shift characteristics and achieves significant vibration reduction within specific frequency bands. The vibration isolator shows promising potential for vibration reduction in equipment used in transportation, industrial production, aerospace, and other fields.