MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL BRAKE AS POTENTIAL APPLICATION FOR SEAT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS

Potentially negative effects on human health caused by vehicle operating are numerous. Vibrations generated by off-road machinery exploitation are such kind of influence that has negative, long-lasting effect on driver's body. Great deal of efforts has been made in the past several years to reduce this kind of influence. Active and passive systems for vibration intensity reduction are in the focus of development. Application of intelligent materials such as magnetorheological fluids, gives excellent results. Magnetorheological fluid application in this field has so far been concentrated at shock absorbers as damping elements for driver's seat system. Investigation results for magnetorheological brake application potential as a damping element at driver's seat suspension system have been presented in this paper. For this purpose a test rig was designed and manufactured with the aim to determine control current - torque relationship. The results show that there is a great potential for this kind of magnetorheological's brake application.