Investigation of a 2-DOF GER fluid damper in cut mode

Abstract

Dampers incorporating smart materials have attracted significant interest for their application in vibration and shock isolation. Traditionally, these dampers work through shear, flow, and squeeze modes, each unique in its strengths and limitations. However, this study introduces a working mode, termed cut mode, which integrates the strengths of these existing modes. Structurally resembling the flow mode, operationally akin to the shear mode, and behaving similarly to the squeeze mode, the cut mode promises a novel approach to damping. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted at the particle level to develop a mathematical model for the cut mode, grounded in chain formation and breaking mechanisms. Thereafter, a verification prototype damper was designed to demonstrate this concept’s practicality, with the Giant Electrorheological (GER) fluid—a rheological fluid with exceptional yield strength—being employed. This damper features a multilayer cylindrical structure tailored for the cut mode, providing 2-degree of freedom (DOF) damping capabilities. This dual-DOF design is ideal for robotic arm joint applications, as it can offer damping for both axial translation and circumferential rotation simultaneously. In addition, four orifice boards were designed, fabricated, and tested to optimize and enhance the effectiveness of the cut mode further. The results are impressive, the proposed cut mode damper exhibits superior performance characteristics, indicating its great potential for engineering applications.