Pareto Optimization-Based Tradeoff Between the Damping Force and the Sensed Relative Displacement of a Self-sensing Magnetorheological Damper

In order to make the best compromise between the damping force and the linearity of the integrated relative displacement sensor (IRDS) of an integrated relative displacement self-sensing magnetorheological damper (IRDSMRD), a Pareto optimization-based method, which optimizes the key structural parameters by taking the damping force and the linearity of the IRDS of the IRDSMRD as the objective functions, is proposed and realized in this article. The Pareto front, representing the best tradeoff between the damping force and the linearity of the IRDS of the IRDSMRD, is obtained by considering that the maximum magnetomotive force applied to the exciting coil of the IRDSMRD is constant. Three IRDSMRDs with different piston modules, which are determined according to the Pareto optimal solutions, are developed and tested. The research results indicate that every point on the Pareto front is an optimal solution that compromises the damping force and the linearity of the IRDS of the IRDSMRD and the optimal damping force of the IRDSMRD with a certain linearity of the IRDS as well as the optimal linearity of the IRDS with a certain damping force can be determined according to the Pareto front for a specific application.