Performance Evaluation of a Mixed Mode ER Engine Mount Via Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation

Abstract

This paper proposes a new type of an ER (electro-rheological) engine mount which has a mixed mode as fluid working mode (the combination of shear and flow modes). As a first step, a mixed mode ER engine mount, which is applicable to a medium-sized passenger vehicle, is designed and manufactured by incorporating Bingham model of the ER fluid. The vibration isolation performance of the ER engine mount with different intensity of electric fields is evaluated in the frequency domain and compared with that of conventional hydraulic type engine mount. Subsequently, a full car system installed with the proposed ER engine mounts is constructed and modeled by considering engine excitation forces. After deriving its governing equations of motion, HIh control algorithm is formulated by taking into account the semi-active actuating condition. The vertical engine displacement and body acceleration are evaluated via hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) at various engine excitation frequencies.