Dynamic simulation and test verification of MR shock absorber under impact load

The magnetorhcological (MR) shock absorber is one of the most promising new devices for vibration reduction. Many investigations have been carried out on low velocity and frequency applications of MR devices. The use of the MR shock absorber under impact load is of great interest. The now widely used MR damper models, such as the Bingham model, cannot explain sufficiently the shear thinning behavior under impact loads. However, the Herschel-Bulkley model can be used to explain the same. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the behavior of the MR shock absorber under impact load and to verify the analytical conclusions and experiments. First, some dynamic simulations on the MR shock absorber under impact loads in Matlab and Simulink are carried out. The model describes the dynamic characteristics especially the shear thinning behavior of the shock absorber, based on this model, then analyzes the variations of piston acceleration and back cavity pressure of MR shock absorber at both same and different flow indices. A test rig is developed to test the characteristics of the long-stroke MR shock absorber under impact loads. Comparisons between the simulation and the test results are made to validate our conclusions. The results indicate that the peak acceleration value of the piston rod and the pressure of the back cavity are decided by the peak value and the duration of the impact force. The peak value of the acceleration and the cavity pressure cannot be changed, but the transitional time of the acceleration of the piston and the pressure of the back cavity of MR shock absorber can be controlled by changing the applied current in the electromagnetic coil. MR shock absorbers will be the most promising shock reduction device under an impact environment.