A new MR fluid-elastomer vibration isolator

In this study, the performance of a new design concept utilizing a magnetorheological (MR) fluid composite material is examined through encapsulating a MR fluid into an elastomer. A prototype MR Fluid-Elastomer (MRF-E) Vibration Isolator is built and its dynamic behavior is studied in oscillatory compressions for a wide range of frequencies under various applied magnetic fields. The experimental results show that both the stiffness and the damping capability of the MRF-E Vibration Isolator is a function of the displacement amplitude and magnetic field strength, and only weakly dependent upon the frequency of excitation. This demonstrates that the new vibration isolator, whose mechanical properties can be controlled by an applied magnetic field, has potential in applications where tuning vibration characteristics are desired.