<title>Semi-active vibration isolation using magnetorheological isolators</title>

Abstract

This paper presents experimental and theoretical analysis of a vibration isolation system using MR fluid-based semi-active isolators. In doing so, a vibration isolator using MR fluids is designed and manufactured in this study. A new nonlinear hysteresis model with simplicity in form is proposed to describe the hysteresis force characteristics of the MR isolator. The damping forces of the MR isolator with different excitation frequency and current input are measured and compared with that resulting from the hysteresis model for the verification of the theoretical analysis. A vibration isolation system with the MR isolator is constructed and its dynamic equation of motion is derived. A simple skyhook controller is formulated to attenuate the vibration of the system. Controlled performances of the vibration isolation system are experimentally and theoretically evaluated in the frequency and time domains.