Investigation of Field Dependent Variations of Torsional Stiffness of Magnetorheological Elastomer

Abstract

Isolation of torsional vibrations in shafts is one of the most important aspects of a sound design system. Though existing systems such as the centrifugal pendulum absorber and the flywheels reduce the effects to a certain extent, the system fails to comply when the natural frequency of the torsional system changes. To counteract such instances, smart materials are used to tune their parameters based on the variations in the system variables. Magnetorheological Elastomers offer a viable solution to the dynamic vibrations as they can adhere to variations in system properties. To properly implement the MRE, it is mandatory to characterize the mechanical properties under dynamic loading conditions under varying magnetic fields. The present paper focuses on characterizing the torsional stiffness of the MRE under varying magnetic fields. The characterization methodology is discussed with the building of the measurement system, followed by the results and discussions of varying hysteresis loops for different magnetic fields. Variations in the properties are discussed, highlighting the role of the dipole mechanism. © 2024 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.