Abstract
Shock wave reduction in electrorheological(ER) smart structures is studied. ER insert is a composite structure comprising two elastic outer layers between which is sandwiched layer of ER fluid. When a voltage is applied across the outer layers. the shear modulus and the loss factor of the ER fluid are enabled, and thus the dynamic properties of the composite structure is altered. For the shock wave reduction in a hull mount of a submerged structure, ER inserts are made on the hull mount structure. To investigate the ER insert shape. many types of ER insert pattern are considered. Modal test of ER insert structures is performed to obtain the mode shapes, natural frequencies and the acceleration transmissibility. The acceleration transmissibility is reduced at such a frequency region when an electric field is applied. It is observed that the natural frequencies and mode shapes can be tunable by applying electric field. The ER-inserted hull mount is installed in an integrated system and the overall performance of shock wave reduction is tested. The possibility of shock wave reduction in the hull mount is demonstrated.