Lubrication performance of magnetorheological fluid in shear mode magnetorheological clutch with and without groove

Abstract

In this work, the lubrication performance of magnetorheological fluid-filled parallel discs of shear mode magnetorheological clutch is investigated. A magnetorheological fluid contains magnetic particles responsible for the yield strength and hence torque transmission capability in the magnetorheological clutch. The wear damages of magnetic particles of a magnetorheological fluid and magnetorheological clutch discs are examined by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is used to investigate the variation in chemical composition before and after the experimental test. A test rig is developed to test the torque transmission for a fabricated magnetorheological clutch with a grooved and non-grooved disc. The grooves' impact on both magnetorheological clutch discs' wear and magnetorheological fluid is investigated. It has been observed that the minimum wear damage occurs in the magnetic particles and the disc surface for the circular grooved magnetorheological clutch disc surface than the non-grooved disc surface. An effect of surface texture on the temperature distribution of the magnetorheological clutch is studied through simulation. Simulation results show that the groove's presence on the disc surface can improve the magnetorheological clutch's heat transfer. Hence, the grooved texture improves the lubrication performance and durability of both magnetorheological fluid and magnetorheological clutch.