Influential characteristics of electromagnetic parameters on self-powered MR damper and its application in vehicle suspension system

Abstract

In order to reuse the energy dissipated by magneto-rheological (MR) damper, a self-powered MR damper is designed and analyzed theoretically. The main thrust of this work is establishing the mechanical-electromagnetic coupling model of quarter vehicle suspension based on self-powered MR damper, whilst the energy conversion efficiency of self-powered MR damper with electromagnetic parameters changing is investigated. The magnetic circuit model is formulated firstly. The influence of electromagnetic parameters on current in MR damper is analyzed systemically in frequency domain. A multi-objective optimization method is performed to determine the electromagnetic parameters. Subsequently a quarter vehicle suspension system with self-powered MR damper is introduced. The mechanical-electromagnetic coupling model is established. The frequency response function is derived under random road excitation. The vibration isolation capability of the proposed quarter vehicle suspension system is addressed in time and frequency domain respectively. Compared to passive control, the amplitude of sprung mass velocity, acceleration and transmissibility are reduced by 51%, 78% and about 10 dB in time and frequency domain respectively. Finally the energy conversion efficiency of self-powered MR damper with magnetic parameters changing under random road excitation is discussed. The vibration isolation performance of self-powered MR damper is more effective than passive control, especially in resonance range of the suspension system.