Performance of MRE-based Vibration Absorbers

The purpose of this work is to use magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) as field-dependent springs within three vibration absorber configurations, and to determine their vibration absorption characteristics. Magnetorheological elastomers are fabricated from silicone gel and iron microparticles, and implemented as tunable springs in three vibration absorber configurations, which excited the MREs in shear, squeeze mode, and compression. Each vibration absorber configuration exploits different magneto-mechanical properties, achieving very different results. The MRE iron concentration is varied to find the largest natural frequency shift for the squeeze-mode absorber due to an applied magnetic field. Absorbers with MREs containing 35% iron by volume exhibits the largest natural frequency shift, 507%. MREs containing 35% iron are placed into shear and longitudinal mode vibration absorber devices, which exhibit 470% and 180% frequency increases, respectively.