Magnetic field and frequency dependent LVE limit characterization of magnetorheological elastomer

Abstract

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) based semi-active isolators have the potential to replace conventional passive isolators to achieve wide frequency range isolation. The effectiveness of MRE isolator depends on the control strategies developed based on viscoelastic constitutive relations. The theory of linear viscoelasticity is the basis for viscoelastic constitutive relations which can predict the material behavior within a certain strain limit referred as linear viscoelastic (LVE) limit. Beyond the LVE limit, the performance of MRE semi-active isolator exacerbates as the control strategies turns out to be ineffective. In the present study, variation in LVE limit of MRE with the magnetic field and frequency is investigated through forced vibration tests. To exclude the effect of terminal non-linearity on the measurement, the blocked transfer stiffness method described in the ISO 10846-2 is adopted. The results revealed that the LVE limit of MRE is strongly dependant on the magnetic field and exhibited a weak dependency on the operating frequency. Under magnetized state, the transition from linear to non-linear behavior of MRE is at lower strain levels indicating the increased friction energy dissipation at particle–matrix interface.