Development of a dual magnetostrictive material rods–based electro-hydrostatic actuator

Abstract

Recently, the use of smart material–based electro-hydrostatic actuators is increasingly becoming more attractive to overcome the inherent disadvantages of conventional actuation systems and to offer new opportunities for performance improvement. A new type of a dual magnetostrictive material rods–based electro-hydrostatic actuator is presented in the current study. An active rotary rectification valve is utilized to convert small, high-frequency vibration displacements of the magnetostrictive material rods into continuous, smooth and bidirectional motion of a hydraulic cylinder by fluid rectification. Simulation and experiments were performed to confirm the feasibility of the new concept. The experimental results indicate that the dual magnetostrictive material rods–based electro-hydrostatic actuator exhibits a maximum flow rate that is approximately twice that of a single magnetostrictive material rod–based electro-hydrostatic actuator, and that the operating frequency increases from 110 to 150 Hz.