Development and Testing of an Electronically Controlled Shock and Vibration Damper Having an Electrorheological Fluid Medium

Electrorheological (ER) materials are suspensions of micron sized particles in insulating, dielectric fluids. The mechanical properties of these materials can be controlled by regulating an electric field through them. Variable properties include stiffness, damping, and yielding behavior. At high electric fields, material property changes are rapid and immediately reversible. ER technology has numerous applications in the structural control field, using ER devices to control the response of systems subjected to diverse shock and vibration excitations. Results are presented on continuing research into ER damper design and fluid formulation, plus test output on a 1,000 lbs. force ER damping device.