A Dynamic Model and Parameter Identification of High Viscosity Magnetorheological Fluid-Based Energy Absorber with Radial Flow Mode

The excellent suspension stability of the high-viscosity linear polysiloxane magnetorheological fluid (HVLP MRF) makes it a great controlled medium for magnetorheological energy absorbers (MREAs). In our previous work, the Herschel-Bulkley flow model (HB model) was used to describe the shear-thinning rheological behavior and establish the dynamic model of an HVLP MRF-based MREA with radial flow mode. However, as the established model was implicit, the MREA response time increased and the buffer effect was degraded. To improve the time response characteristics, an explicit dynamic model based on the HB model incorporating minor losses (called the E-HBM model) is proposed in this study. The model parameters were identified based on the HBM model. To verify the E-HBM model, five evaluation parameters for the energy absorption performance of the MREA, that is, peak force, mean force, crush force efficiency, specific energy absorption, and stroke efficiency, were introduced to compare the theoretical results with the experimental results obtained using a high-speed drop tower facility with a mass of 600 kg. Then, the relative error of the crush force efficiency, specific energy absorption, and stroke efficiency was quantitatively and comprehensively analyzed considering the E-HBM model and experimental results. The results indicate that the proposed E-HBM model agrees with the impact behavior of the radial flow mode MREA.