An analytical method for optimal design of MR valve structures

Abstract

This paper proposes an analytical methodology for the optimal design of a magnetorheological(MR) valve structure. The MR valve structure is constrained in a specific volume and theoptimization problem identifies geometric dimensions of the valve structure that maximizethe yield stress pressure drop of a MR valve or the yield stress damping force of a MRdamper. In this paper, the single-coil and two-coil annular MR valve structures areconsidered. After describing the schematic configuration and operating principle of atypical MR valve and damper, a quasi-static model is derived based on the Bingham modelof a MR fluid. The magnetic circuit of the valve and damper is then analyzedby applying Kirchoff’s law and the magnetic flux conservation rule. Based onquasi-static modeling and magnetic circuit analysis, the optimization problem ofthe MR valve and damper is built. In order to reduce the computation load,the optimization problem is simplified and a procedure to obtain the optimalsolution of the simplified optimization problem is presented. The optimal solution ofthe simplified optimization problem of the MR valve structure constrained in aspecific volume is then obtained and compared with the solution of the originaloptimization problem and the optimal solution obtained from the finite element method.