MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL

DAMPER

GUIDED BY- SUBMITTED BY-

Gaurav Kr. Upadhyay Shikhar Gupta
Assistant Professor ME-3-C
Mechanical Dept. 1516440143
 CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Need of MR Damping Devices
• Magneto-Rheological Fluids
• MR Dampers
• Types of MR Dampers
• Modeling of MR Dampers
• Limitations
• Current & Future Scope
• Concluding Remarks
• References
 INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of this presentation is to:

 Introduce the topic of MR Dampers to the audience.

 The mechanism and working of MR fluid.
 Objectives and future prospects of MR Dampers
 NEED OF MR DAMPING DEVICES

1. Automobile suspension mostly influence the vehicle ride quality and

safety
2. Need of real-time performance adjustment based on road situation and
vehicle operation state.
3. Conventional dampers such as hydraulic and spring dampers have
constant setting throughout their life.
4. MR dampers due to the apparent viscosity of magnetic fluids can
operate in semi-active conditions.
CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW
 Magneto-Rheological fluid
• Composition : Oil (having low permeability) with varying percentage of
micron sized (µ) iron particles coated with anti-coagulant material.

• Active state : When fluid is exposed to magnetic field, can be said in

the active state and its viscosity can be varied by varying the strength of
magnetic field.

• Un-active state : In the absence of magnetic field it is in un-active state and

behaves like normal fluid.

• Apparent viscosity : It has constant viscosity in its un-active state but in

active state, due to alignment of iron particles along the magnetic-flux
lines, it possesses some apparent viscosity. This viscosity can be controlled
by controlling the magnetic field.

• Shear yield stress : The strength of MR fluid can be described by shear

yield stress.
 Characteristics :
1. Under a strong magnetic field its
viscosity can be increased by more
than two orders of magnitude in a
very short time (milliseconds). Hence,
very low response time.
2. The change in viscosity is
continuous and highly reversible.
3. Yield strength of up to 50-100 kPa.
4. Insensitivity to contaminants.
5. Low voltage (12-24 V) required for
operation.
6. Broad working temperature range :
-40º C to 150º C.
 MODE OF OPERATION
MR fluid can be operated in 3 ways :
 shear mode
 valve mode
 squeeze mode

• Squeeze mode (or compression mode) : Squeeze mode has a thin film (on
the order of 0.020 inch.) of MR fluid that is sandwiched between
paramagnetic pole surfaces as shown in Figure-
1. The distance between the parallel pole
plates changes, which causes a squeeze
flow.
2. Suitable for relatively high dynamic forces
with small amplitudes (few mm).
• Shear mode : It differs in operation from squeeze mode due to moving
paramagnetic sliding or rotating surfaces. It has thin layer( 0.015 in.) of MR
fluid sandwiched between paramagnetic surfaces.

1. Magnetic field is perpendicular to the

direction of motion of these moving
surfaces.
2. Examples of shear mode include
clutches, brakes, chucking and
locking devices, dampers and
structural composites.
3. Suitable for relatively small force
applications.
• Valve mode : It is the most widely used of above three modes. Here the two
reservoirs of MR fluid are used and magnetic field is used to impede the
flow of MR fluid from one reservoir to another. Here the flow can be
achieved by pressure drop between the two reservoirs and flow resistance
can be controlled by magnetic flux.
 COMPARISON OF MR FLUID WITH ER FLUID

Properties comparison MR fluid ER fluid

Max. yield stress 50-100 kpa 2-5 kpa

Maximum field ~250 kA/ mm ~4 kV/ mm

Temperature range -40 – 150 C +10 – 90 C

Stability Unaffected by most Cannot tolerate impurities

impurities
Density 3-4 g/cm*3 1-2 g/cm*3

Maximum energy density 0.1 joules/cm*3 0.001 joules/cm*3

Power supply 2-50 V , 1-2 A 2000-5000 V , 1-10 mA

 MR Dampers
• It was discovered by Jacob Rainbow in 1940s
• These devices generally operate in the valve mode.
• Having structure of piston and cylinder with flow control valves either
incorporated in piston end or cylinder (bypass).
• MR dampers were introduced by first Lord Corporation in 1980’s in truck
seat damping system under trademark ‘Motion Master’
• General Motors in partnership with Delphi corporation (branch of GM) has
developed dampers for automotive suspensions. It made its debut in
Cadillac (2002) as MagneRide and on Chevrolet passenger vehicles (2003)
as Magnetic Selective Ride Control (MSRC).
• BMW uses it’s own proprietary version of this device while Audi and
Ferrari offer Delphi’s MageRide on various models.
 Typical MR damper

1. Choking Points : The areas

where MR fluid is exposed
to magnetic flux lines.
2. Fluid restricts the flow when
it is in vicinity of chocking
points and in an active state.
3. With increase in magnetic
flux increase in apparent viscosity
(damper resistance) occurs up to
some ‘saturation point’ after which
damper resistance cannot be increased.
 TYPES OF MRF DAMPERS

1. MONO-TUBE DAMPER
2. TWIN-TUBE DAMPER
3. DOUBLE-ENDED MR DAMPER
4. MR-HYDRAULIC HYBRID DAMPER
• MONO TUBE DAMPER
It is one that has only one reservoir for the MR fluid and also has some
way to allow for the change in volume that results from piston rod
movement. In order to accommodate this change in reservoir volume, an
accumulator piston is usually used. The accumulator piston provides a
barrier between the MR fluid and a compressed gas (usually nitrogen) that
is used to accommodate the necessary volume changes.
• TWIN TUBE DAMPER
1. Has two fluid reservoirs, one inside of the other.
2. The inner housing filled with MR fluid guides the piston/piston rod
assembly.
3. The outer housing partially filled with MR fluid serves the purpose of
reservoir.
CONTD.

4. ‘Foot Valve Assembly’ is attached to the bottom of the inner housing to

regulate the flow of fluid between two reservoirs.
5. Foot Valve Assembly includes – Compression valve that guides flow from
inner to outer housing during compression stroke while return valve for exact
opposite function during piston retraction.
6. For proper functioning, compression valve must be stiff relative to the
pressure differential that exists on both the sides. While the return valve
must be very unrestrictive.

• Conditions for proper functioning :

1. The valve timing is set up properly.
2. MR fluid settling is not a problem.
3. The damper is used in an upright position.
• DOUBLE-ENDED MR DAMPER
1. It has 2 piston rods of equal diameter protruding through both ends of
damper.
2. Does not require an accumulator or similar arrangments.
3. Have been used for bicycle applications, gun recoil applications, and for
stabilizing buildings during earthquakes.
• MR-HYDRAULIC HYBRID DAMPER
1. These are dampers in which a small MR damper controls a valve that, in
turn, is used to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid.
2. It has been used in military applications and seismic applications.
 MODELLING OF MR DAMPERS
• Modeling MR dampers is difficult and
complex task due to their non-linear
and hysteretic dynamics.
• Currently there are different modelling
techniques for MR dampers.
Following are well known -
1. Modified Bouc-Wen Model by
Spencer for MR devices.
2. Recursive Lazy Learning based on
neural networks

Fig. MR DAMPER SECTION ( LIAO &

CHEN, 2015)
 LIMITATIONS
1. Settling stability of MR fluid : Heavy particles tend to settle in static fluid.
But using proper anti-coagulant can prevent such settling and fluid can be
used without any adverse effect in its operation.

2. Relative Costs : This is very important factor while making choice between
MR dampers and conventional passive devices. To reduce the cost use of
absorbent matrix method is used. Due to this, volume of MR fluid is
reduced to great extent, requirement of highly finished surfaces, precision
tolerances and seals is negated.
Absorbent matrix method uses sponge like structures that keeps
MR fluid in active(choking) regions.

3. Durability of devices : MR fluids are inherently somewhat abrasive. To

tackle the problem, dynamic seal design, material selection and proper
MR fluid chemistry are require
 CURRENT & FUTURE SCOPE

• Vehicular suspension, breaks, clutch systems.

• Military applications such as gun recoil system, naval gun
turrets.
• Magneto-rheological finishing techniques.
• Prosthetic limbs and tremor suppression.
• MR fluid fixtures.
 CONCLUDING REMARKS
1. MR fluids and MR fluid devices have been greatly advanced in the last
decade and there are some commercial products have been developed.
2. This technique has been developing competitively in the main
industrialized countries, especially in the United States, Belarus, France,
Germany and Japan.
3. It can be seen that the MR fluid devices introduced in this seminar will
continue to be the subject of extensive research and applications in
various field as mentioned before.
 REFERENCES
1. http://www.seminarously.com
2. James C. Poynor, Innovative Designs for Magneto-Rheological Dampers,
Thesis submitted to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Aug 7, 2001.
3. http://www.formula1-dictionary.net/damper_magnetorheological.html
4. http://www.slideshare.net
5. http://www.wikipedia.com
THANK YOU!