Eddy Current Damping Research Articles

Demagnetization optimization of hybrid excitation eddy current damper under intensive impact load

The hybrid excitation eddy current damper is a novel principle damper characterized by high reliability, simple structure, and controllable magnetic field. Under intensive impact loads, hybrid excitation electromagnetic damping can induce demagnetization effects, resulting in significant fluctuations of the electromagnetic damping force at 6-8 ms. To mitigate this phenomenon, this study established a finite element model of the hybrid excitation damper using COMSOL and developed a control module based on a BP neural network in Simulink. Through co-simulation of COMSOL and Simulink, the difference between the maximum and minimum electromagnetic damping force at 6-8ms is reduced from 45 kN to 5 kN. This research provides valuable technical references for the optimization and practical application of eddy current dampers.

High robust eddy current tuned tandem mass dampers-inerters for structures under the ground acceleration

In this work, a novel eddy current tuned tandem mass dampers-inerters, referred to as EC-TTMDI is proposed, a theoretical analysis model of the vibration control mechanism is established, and parameterized analysis and design are conducted using the intelligent optimization algorithm. This model is the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure with EC-TTMDI subjected to Gaussian white noise base excitation. Specifically, the expression for the displacement variance of the SDOF structure-EC-TTMDI system was firstly obtained with resorting to both the equivalent linearization of eddy current damper (ECD) and residue theorem. The optimization objective function was then defined as minimization of the displacement variance, which is product of the white noise intensity and the square of H2 norm of the model transfer function. Employing the pattern-search algorithm, the variation trends of the objective function and the optimum design parameters were subsequently scrutinized. The vibration damping mechanism of EC-TTMDI is then revealed in terms of control effectiveness, robustness, structural frequency response, suppression bandwidth, and stroke. Finally, the time history response analysis of the SDOF structure-EC-TTMDI system subjected to the near-field impulse, near-field non-impulse, and far-field earthquakes was conducted to further confirm the performance superiority of EC-TTMDI. Results demonstrates that EC-TTMDI offers higher robustness and better control effectiveness compared to TTMDI and TMDI. Furthermore, EC-TTMDI features the damping force limiting characteristic, which enhances the integrity and reliability of TTMDI.

Experimental and numerical study on a multilayer magnetic field rotary eddy current inertial damper

To improve the output damping force of the eddy current damper, a multilayer magnetic field rotary eddy current inertial damper (MMF-RECID) is proposed. The MMF-RECID is an inerter-based eddy current damper. A prototype device of the MMF-RECID is manufactured and tested, and its mechanical properties are systematically investigated. Firstly, the configuration of the MMF-RECID is described, and the calculation formulas of the axial force are derived. Secondly, an MMF-RECID prototype is designed and fabricated, and the apparent mass and energy dissipation performance under recycled axial loading are investigated. Three-dimensional transient numerical simulations of eddy current damping are conducted using the ANSYS Electronics Desktop. The results show that the eddy current damping force exhibits velocity nonlinearity, and the test results are consistent with the simulation results. Next, the study focuses on parameters influencing the maximum eddy current damping torque generated by the copper plate and the corresponding critical rotating speed. These parameters encompass the number and size of the magnets, the thickness of the copper plate, and the air gap. Finally, the earthquake-reduction effect of a six-degree-of-freedom structure equipped with MMF-RECID is analyzed. This study demonstrates that the ball screw system of MMF-RECID achieves a multiplicative effect of apparent mass and eddy current damping force, the eddy current damping force of a multi-layer magnetic field versus a single-layer magnetic field conforms to the law of linear superposition, and the hysteresis curves are stable. The eddy current damping torque can be improved by increasing the number and size of the magnets, and decreasing the air gap. The thickness of the copper plate significantly affects both the maximum damping torque and the critical speed, and the optimal thickness range is between 2 mm and 4 mm.

Innovative Hamburger-Shaped Eddy Current Damper Designed for Wind-Induced Vibration Control of Civil Structures

Innovative Hamburger-Shaped Eddy Current Damper Designed for Wind-Induced Vibration Control of Civil Structures

Performance enhanced magnetic negative stiffness eddy-current damper: Numerical simulation and experimental investigation

Passive negative stiffness dampers (NSDs) possess significant advantages and promising application prospects in the field of structural vibration control. NSDs with high energy dissipation capability are desired to satisfy the vibration mitigation requirements for large-scale engineering structures, such as high-rise buildings and long-span bridges. However, in practical applications, due to the constraints of mounting space and additional weight, the negative stiffness and damping coefficient of existing NSDs are generally not very large and with poor adjustability. To overcome these limitations, this study develops a novel magnetic negative stiffness eddy-current damper (MNSECD) with enhanced overall performance. This damper consists of a magnetic negative stiffness system (MNSS), a multi-layer-plate-type eddy-current damping system (ECDS) in parallel, and a bidirectional ball screw transmission system. Firstly, different magnetic arrays are designed to optimize the magnetic fields of the MNSECD, and to enhance its magnetic negative stiffness and eddy-current damping without adding extra dimensions and weight. Subsequently, the electromagnetic finite-element models (FEMs) of the MNSECD are established to precisely simulate its magnetic negative stiffness and eddy-current damping forces, and these models are further utilized to elucidate the enhancement mechanism of different magnetic arrays. Finally, based on the numerical simulation results, the best performing magnetic array is selected respectively for the ECDS and MNSS systems to carry out experimental studies on a small-scale prototype. Numerical and experimental results indicate that the selected magnetic array for the MNSS proves highly effective in enhancing the magnetic negative stiffness of the MNSECD, while the selected magnetic array for the ECDS also demonstrates superior effectiveness in enhancing the eddy-current damping of the damper. These findings suggest that the novel MNSECD can be readily used in the vibration control of large-scale engineering structures.

Analysis and experimental evaluation of an inertial eddy current damper for vibration control

Electromagnetic damping features non-contact operation, easy adjustability, convenient processing, and high energy consumption. Combined with the damping efficiency enhancement effect of the inertial system, it is conducive to further improving its damping effect. This paper proposes an inertial mass damper, named the Inertial Eddy Current Damper (IECD). The proposed IECD has the advantage of adjustability, meaning that the eddy current damping force can be adjusted by regulating the current in the coil. First, the mechanical model of the IECD was proposed through theoretical methods. Secondly, performance tests were conducted to verify the accuracy of the proposed mechanical model. Finally, numerical models of structures employing various applications of the IECD were established to conduct seismic response analysis. The results show that the proposed mechanical model effectively reflects the actual performance of the IECD. When used for energy dissipation and vibration reduction, the IECD demonstrates superior control performance in terms of displacement and velocity compared to the LVD, and the switch control strategy can address the issue of poor acceleration control performance. Combining the IECD with isolation bearings not only further reduces the seismic response of the superstructure but also enhances the safety of the isolation bearings, preventing excessive deformation.

Improved stochastic linearization methods for structures with nonlinear eddy current dampers considering non-Gaussian distributions

Improved stochastic linearization methods for structures with nonlinear eddy current dampers considering non-Gaussian distributions

(Invited) Wearable Pocket-Sized Fully Non-Contact Cardiorespiratory Sensor

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have emerged as the leading cause of global mortality over the past decade, encompassing conditions such as atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Consequently, continuous monitoring plays a crucial role in managing these conditions, as it enables early detection, improves patient survival rates, and alleviates the burden on emergency medical resources. Our research group has developed a wearable pocket-sized fully non-contact cardiorespiratory sensor that utilizes electromagnetic induction technology to measure dynamic changes in electrical conductivity resulting from cardiac contractions and pulmonary volume variations. This enables the continuous acquisition of eddy current damping response signals to achieve cardiorespiratory monitoring. In comparison to commercially available ECGs, PPG smartwatches, and respiratory sensors, our proposed pocket-sized sensor offers three major advantages: exceptional concealment, convenience, and comfort for health monitoring due to its pocket-sized and micro-structured design; simultaneous acquisition of two-dimensional cardiac and respiratory signals, facilitating comprehensive cardiorespiratory health monitoring; and the ability to adjust sensing depth through frequency modulation of the electromagnetic field, thus eliminating variations in physiological structures among subjects and achieving optimized sensing and personalized medical benefits.

Analysis of a passive vibration damper for high-speed superconducting magnetic bearings

Superconducting magnetic bearings (SMB) based on a combination of high temperature superconductors and permanent magnets enable the realization of self-stabilized high-speed devices with significantly reduced friction. However, external vibration might couple in the bearing resulting in large amplitude oscillations due to a resonance case. A dedicated eddy current damper (ECD) might be used to eliminate these oscillations for a stable operation. The influence of such damping elements was studied for a frictionless SMB twisting system designed to speed up the conventional ring spinning process. Therefore, conductive copper rings with different thicknesses were implemented at different positions into the bearing setup as ECD. Afterward, the SMB setup was analyzed during acceleration using an array of laser distance sensors to record the displacement of the levitating permanent magnet ring in radial and axial direction, respectively. Simultaneously, a numerical model was developed to investigate the influence of the ECDs on the dynamic and static behavior of the SMB in more detail. It was shown that the simulated damping coefficients are in good agreement with the measured values, which allows further optimization of the ECD with the developed numerical model.

Nonlinear dynamics of diamagnetically levitating resonators

The ultimate isolation offered by levitation provides new opportunities for studying fundamental science and realizing ultra-sensitive floating sensors. Among different levitation schemes, diamagnetic levitation is attractive because it allows stable levitation at room temperature without a continuous power supply. While the dynamics of diamagnetically levitating objects in the linear regime are well studied, their nonlinear dynamics have received little attention. Here, we experimentally and theoretically study the nonlinear dynamic response of graphite resonators that levitate in permanent magnetic traps. By large amplitude actuation, we drive the resonators into nonlinear regime and measure their motion using laser Doppler interferometry. Unlike other magnetic levitation systems, here we observe a resonance frequency reduction with amplitude in a diamagnetic levitation system that we attribute to the softening effect of the magnetic force. We then analyze the asymmetric magnetic potential and construct a model that captures the experimental nonlinear dynamic behavior over a wide range of excitation forces. We also investigate the linearity of the damping forces on the levitating resonator, and show that although eddy current damping remains linear over a large range, gas damping opens a route for tuning nonlinear damping forces via the squeeze-film effect.

Damping characteristics of High-Temperature superconducting pinning maglev levitation system

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) pinning maglev has achieved rapid development in recent decades. The levitation system of the HTS pinning maglev is mainly composed of Dewar with built-in HTS bulks and permanent magnet guideway (PMG). For a maglev transportation system, damping is important for vibration attenuation, and the inherent damping characteristics of the HTS pinning maglev system have not been evaluated clearly. In this paper, the damping characteristics of the HTS pinning maglev system are analyzed through experiments and simulations. Experiments are conducted to measure the dynamic responses of the system under free and forced vibrations. The logarithmic envelope method is used to evaluate the system damping under free vibration. The cross-correlation function is utilized to obtain the phase difference between the system vibration signal and excitation signal, and then calculate the system damping under forced vibration conditions. In addition, a two-dimensional finite element model including HTS bulks, PMG, and Dewar conductive shells is established to evaluate the damping force generated by each component during system vibrations. The additional eddy current damping of the conductive Dewar shell is considered and analyzed. Finally, from the perspective of system damping and thermal stability of HTS bulks, suggestions for selecting Dewar shell materials are proposed.

Theoretical study of a novel resettable‐inertia damper: Dynamic modeling, equivalent linearization, and performance assessment

AbstractTo passively achieve an inertial device with unidirectional force transmission similar to Bang Bang control, this study introduces a novel energy dissipation device known as the resettable‐inertia damper (RID). The ingenious motion principles of the RID, encompassing a rack‐and‐pinion, bevel gear commutation system, speed transmission, and eddy current damping, are elucidated in detail. In particular, a unidirectional rotational flywheel within the device selectively engages when the primary structure reciprocates. The physical mass of the flywheel undergoes conversion into an amplified inertia through the rack‐and‐pinion mechanism, which enables the enhancement of damping effects coupling the flywheel rotation and eddy current configuration. A coupled multibody dynamic model, combining the clutching effect, the flywheel inertia, and the rotational damping, is formulated to analyze the system with RID (RIDS). Currently, an analysis of the hysteretic behaviors of RID is carried out. To facilitate the design and evaluation of the performance of RIDS, an equivalent linearization method is proposed for RIDS. The feasibility of this simplified method is validated under harmonic excitation. Additionally, the study examines the performance of equivalent linear systems (ELSs) and RIDS under natural ground motions and stochastic stationary excitation in peak and variance responses levels, respectively. Comparison of RID with traditional inerter shows that RID can achieve a more pronounced control with less force transferred to the structure and with the potential to recover vibration energy, highlighting its unique advantages.

Performance analysis of a novel single-flywheel resettable-inertia damper with eddy-current damping

The clutching inertia model presents an ideal Bang-Bang control approach, but it is challenging to realize practically through passive means. In this paper, a single-flywheel resettable-inertia damper (SRID) is proposed on the basis of the clutching inertia model. This device is implemented with a rack-and-pinion system, a right-angle gearbox system, and a flywheel-mounted eddy-current damping system. Initially, a mechanical analysis model of this device is established according to its working mechanism. Subsequently, comparative analyses are performed on the performance of SRID in a single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure compared to viscous dampers (VDs) subjected to harmonic and seismic excitations. The results show that the SRID can achieve a comparable control effect as VDs with a much smaller need for the damping coefficient, reflecting a damping amplification effect over 100 times. The SRID is effective in controlling peak displacement and absolute acceleration responses, especially for long-period structures. Moreover, the control performance is significantly improved with increasing magnetic induction intensity.

Design and application of composite lanchester damper for milling thin-walled part

Thin-walled parts often produce chatter during mechanical processing due to their poor stiffness. Increasing damping can effectively improve the equivalent stiffness of thin-walled parts and weaken the vibration generated during the machining process. Based on the principles of fluid viscous damping and eddy current damping, this article proposes a design scheme for a composite viscous damper. It optimizes the structural parameters of the composite Lanchester damper according to the optimal damping coefficient. Finally, a composite viscous damper was manufactured, and modal tests showed that the amplitude of the first three vibration modes decreased by 83%, 90%, and 85% after installing the damper. In the milling test, the vibration amplitude of the thin-walled part decreased by the highest of 77%.

Multiple-degree-of-freedom damping characteristics evaluation of dual halbach array eddy current damper for turbopump in cryogenic environment

Liquid hydrogen turbopumps are used in large high-performance rockets. Stable high-speed rotation is required for rocket turbopumps. The damping mechanism of the pump must suppress vibration not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction. However, conventional damping elements using oil or rubber cannot be used due to the cryogenic temperature of liquid hydrogen. Therefore, the application of eddy current dampers to liquid hydrogen turbopumps is focused on in this paper. Although various structures of eddy current dampers have been developed, the multi-degree-of-freedom damping characteristics of dual Halbach array type eddy current dampers for liquid hydrogen turbopumps have not yet been investigated. The variation of damping characteristics with temperature has also not yet been verified. In this paper, we propose a novel dual Halbach array type eddy current damper for liquid hydrogen turbopumps. The proposed damper can generate high damping force and can be operated maintenance-free at the cryogenic temperature. The analysis results show that the damping characteristics strongly depend on temperature and that the amplitude reduction effect is greater at low temperatures. It was also found that the proposed damper has a higher damping force density than conventional dampers.

Enhancing pressure control of low-friction pneumatic actuator with eddy current damper via valve dead-zone compensation

This article addresses the high-performance pressure control of a pneumatic actuator that incorporates an air-bearing piston and an eddy current damper (ECD). After optimizing the pneumatic actuator, achieving precise pressure control relies on maintaining an accurate and stable airflow through the control valve. A terminal sliding mode adaptive control method (TSMAC) is proposed, proficiently integrating considerations for dead zone nonlinearities in the proportional valve and the effects of unmodeled disturbances in the pneumatic actuator. Using the opening area of the proportional valve as the input to the pneumatic system greatly simplifies the control process and reduces the workload required for valve parameter calibration. The Lyapunov-based stability analysis demonstrates that excellent asymptotic output tracking can be achieved with low steady-state error simply by knowing the boundaries of the valve opening area. The control effect of the proposed control strategy is compared with an adaptive backstepping sliding mode control method based on a linearly fitted proportional valve model on an established constant pressure control test bench. Experimental results under various loads and operating conditions illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

A Constant Pressure Cylinder Coupled With a “Zero-Stiffness” Eddy Current Damper

A Constant Pressure Cylinder Coupled With a “Zero-Stiffness” Eddy Current Damper

Simplified Nonlinear Damping Force Formula for Rotary Eddy Current Dampers and Comparative Hazard Analysis under Seismic Excitation with Fluid Viscous Dampers

Simplified Nonlinear Damping Force Formula for Rotary Eddy Current Dampers and Comparative Hazard Analysis under Seismic Excitation with Fluid Viscous Dampers

Testing, Modelling, and Performance Evaluation of a Rotary Eddy-Current Damper with Inherent Nonlinear Damping Characteristics for Structural Vibration Control

This paper investigates the inherent nonlinear damping characteristics of a rotary eddy-current damper (RECD) and evaluates its vibration control performance on a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system subjected to harmonic and seismic excitations. First, a RECD prototype was manufactured to experimentally identify its intrinsic nonlinear eddy-current damping characteristics. A magic formula model is then proposed to characterize the relationship between the eddy-current damping force and the velocity of the RECD, and its applicability in depicting the nonlinear damping characteristics of the RECD is evaluated by comparing with the electromagnetic finite-element (FE) model and the commonly used Wouterse’s model. Moreover, by comparing the experimental and analytical frequency–domain responses of an SDOF structure equipped with a RECD, the applicability of the magic formula model in evaluating the structural vibration control performance of the RECD is further verified. Finally, the control performance of the RECD for an SDOF structure subjected to earthquake ground motions is numerically evaluated and compared. Results show that the eddy-current damping force of the RECD presents obvious nonlinear characteristics with increasing velocity, and the proposed magic formula model can adequately depict the nonlinear eddy-current damping characteristics of the RECD. Moreover, the RECD exhibits superior structural control performance under harmonic and seismic excitations.

A novel Horizontal Bidirectional Hybrid Damping System (HBHDS) for multi-level vibration control of long-span bridges: A theoretical study

This study develops a novel Horizontal Bidirectional Hybrid Damping System (HBHDS) for mitigating the vibration of long-span bridges. It consists of eddy current dampers (ECDs), metallic yielding dampers (MYDs), fuse-lock device (FLD), and a spherical steel bearing (SSB). The ECD and MYD are connected in series through the FLD along the longitudinal direction to form an integrated passive control system together with the SSB. This system can not only mitigate the vibrations caused by service and seismic loads in the longitudinal direction, but also reduce the bridge seismic response when experiencing an earthquake in the transverse direction. The mechanical model of the HBHDS is introduced, and the method for determining the parameters of the HBHDS is given. To verify the superiority of the proposed HBHDS, a case study is performed on a long-span cable-stayed bridge. The numerical results confirm that the HBHDS has an excellent multi-level vibration control capacity, i.e., it can effectively mitigate structural vibrations caused by moving vehicle as well as earthquakes.