Assessment of time response characteristics of electrorheological and magnetorheological dampers

Electrorheological (ER) and magnetorheological (MR) fluids show similar field-dependent rheological characteristics from a bulk fluid perspective. However, the implementation of ER and MR fluids in devices may require different strategies because of the inherent properties of ER and MR fluids such as density, viscosity and the strength of the yield stress. Therefore, in this study, we explore the dynamic performance ranges and time response characteristics of ER and MR fluid-based systems in order to comprehensively understand each system. So far, quasi-steady fluid flow model has been widely used in the performance evaluation of ER and MR fluid-based systems. However, the quasi-steady fluid flow model can predict the dynamic performance range of the system, but does not give any information about time response characteristics of the system. Moreover, research on comparative analysis between ER and MR fluid-based systems is considerably rare. Therefore, in this study, comparative analysis for the characteristics of ER and MR fluid-based systems is undertaken based on considering the time response phenomena. For doing so, a set of nondimensional analysis based on parallel plate geometry to characterize the field-dependent properties of ER and MR fluid-based systems is developed and experimental test for ER and MR dampers are done in order to evaluate the validity of the analysis.