Study of the Vibration Control of a Rotor System Using a Magnetorheological Fluid Damper

Abstract

A shear mode magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper used for rotor vibration control is designed and manufactured, and the theoretical model of a cantilevered rotor system with the MR fluid damper is established. The response properties of the rotor system are studied theoretically and experimentally. It is found from the study that the Coulomb friction of the damper is increased as the magnetic field strength applied to the MR fluid increases. As a result, the vibration amplitude of the rotor system supported by the MR damper is decreased near the undamped critical speeds, but is increased in a rotating speed range between the first and the second undamped critical speeds. At the same time, the damped critical speed of the rotor system is increased with the increase of the applied magnetic field. Based on these characteristics, a simple on-off control method is used to suppress the rotor vibration across the critical speeds, and the results show that the method is very effective.