Vibration analysis of a three-layer magnetorheological elastomer embedded sandwich beam with conductive skins using finite element method

In this article, the free and forced vibration analyses of a three-layered magnetorheological elastomer embedded viscoelastic cored sandwich beam with conductive and non-conductive skins have been carried out using finite element method. The finite element method formulation is validated by conducting experiments for a viscoelastic cored sandwich cantilever beam. For an adaptive magnetorheological elastomer embedded viscoelastic cored sandwich beam, results have been compared with those obtained from analytical method. The natural frequencies and loss factors of the magnetorheological elastomer embedded viscoelastic cored sandwich beam have been determined for various system parameters. The forced vibration responses of the magnetorheological elastomer embedded sandwich beam are also evaluated under harmonic force excitations. The results suggest that the natural frequencies and transverse displacement response of the magnetorheological elastomer embedded sandwich beams are strongly influenced by the strength of the applied magnetic field, the location, the length of the magnetorheological elastomer patch and the magnetoelastic loads due to the conductive skins.