Experimental Investigation on the Dynamic Behavior of a Disk-type Damper based on Magnetorheological Grease

In order to greatly reduce the sedimentation in magnetorheological fluids (MRF), which will result in variable-time dynamic behaviors of MRF based vibration-damping devices, a kind of magnetorheological grease (MRG), whose rheological property can also be significantly changed on the application of an external magnetic field, is presented, and a MRG based disk-type damper in shear operation for rotational machinery is developed. This article reports the experimental results about the controllability of the disk-type MRG damper on the dynamic behavior of a rotor system, the effectiveness of the disk-type MRG damper for attenuating the rotor’s vibration, and the suitability of the MRG damper for a feedback vibration control of rotor systems in a flexible rotor. It is shown that the dynamic behavior of the disk-type MRG damper can be controlled on the application of an external magnetic field produced by a low voltage electromagnetic coil. The disk-type MRG damper can significantly change the dynamic characteristics of a rotor system, and is suitable for an actuator to actively control the vibration of rotor systems.