New Variable Stiffness Damper with Magnetorheological-Based Accumulator Control

Abstract

This paper introduces a new design of variable stiffness damper using controlled accumulator filled with Magnetorheological (MR) fluids. The originality of the new design is in its capability to offer less consumption of MR fluids than the conventional design of MR damper. The new design does not fill the whole cylinder with MR fluids but only use the accumulator space as the volume compensation control zone with MR fluids. The MR fluids control the compressive movement of the accumulator piston which alter the flow of the hydraulic oil to the accumulator chamber. As a result, the regulated flow of oil to the accumulator chamber will only have a direct effect to the compression stiffness of the damper. The experimental results show that the proposed design is capable to adjust the compression force while maintaining the rebound force of the damper.