• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2020

In this study, a PDMS-based low-elasticity magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) was fabricated and the Taguchi method was used to identify the factors affecting the elastic modulus. The mixing entropy was calculated using optical microscopy to confirm particle dispersion, which was referenced in the process establishment. In the MRE process, four parameters, namely the curing agent, particle type, particle fraction, and applied magnetic field, were divided into three levels. The elastic modulus of the specimen was compared at the off-state and at 0.2 T using compression tests, and the obtained signal to noise ratio indicated that the softness and change in the elastic modulus of the MRE was mainly affected by the curing agent and the particle fraction.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.323-335
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• 2020

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE), a smart material, is an innovative material for base isolation system. It has magnetorheological (MR) effect that can control the stiffness in real-time. In this paper, a new hybrid base isolation system combining two electromagnetic closed circuits and the roller bearing is proposed. In the proposed system, the roller part can support the vertical load. Thus, the MRE part is free from the vertical load and can exhibit the maximum MR effect. The MRE magnetic loop is constructed in the free space of the roller bearing and forms a strong magnetic field. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed hybrid base isolation system, dynamic characteristic tests and performance evaluation were carried out. Dynamic characteristic tests were performed under the extensive range of strain of the MRE and the change of the applied current. Performance evaluation was carried out using the hybrid simulation under five earthquakes (i.e., El Centro, Kobe, Hachinohe, Northridge, and Loma Prieta). Especially, semi-active fuzzy control algorithm was applied and compared with passive type. From the performance evaluation, the comparison shows that the new hybrid base isolation system using fuzzy control algorithm is superior to passive type in reducing the acceleration and displacement responses of a target structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1077-1099
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• 2016

One of the main shortcomings in the current passive base isolation system is lack of adaptability. The recent research and development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator based on magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) material has created an opportunity to add adaptability to base isolation systems for civil structures. The new MRE based base isolator is able to significantly alter its shear modulus or lateral stiffness with the applied magnetic field or electric current, which makes it a competitive candidate to develop an adaptive base isolation system. This paper aims at exploring suitable control algorithms for such adaptive base isolation system by developing a close-loop semi-active control system for a building structure equipped with MRE base isolators. The MRE base isolator is simulated by a numerical model derived from experimental characterization based on the Bouc-Wen Model, which is able to describe the force-displacement response of the device accurately. The parameters of Bouc-Wen Model such as the stiffness and the damping coefficients are described as functions of the applied current. The state-space model is built by analyzing the dynamic property of the structure embedded with MRE base isolators. A Lyapunov-based controller is designed to adaptively vary the current applied to MRE base isolator to suppress the quake-induced vibrations. The proposed control method is applied to a widely used benchmark base-isolated structure by numerical simulation. The performance of the adaptive base isolation system was evaluated through comparison with optimal passive base isolation system and a passive base isolation system with optimized base shear. It is concluded that the adaptive base isolation system with proposed Lyapunov-based semi-active control surpasses the performance of other two passive systems in protecting the civil structures under seismic events.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2014

Self vulcanizable blend system for magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) has been studied by dispersing magneto responsible particle (MRP) on elastomeric matrix. Chloroprene rubber was modified with maleic anhydride (MAH) using heat and pressure which is called dynamic maleation process. The optimum graft ratio of MAH was found at 10 phr contents and reaction temperature of $100^{\circ}C$. This could be confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Epoxided natural rubber (ENR) was blended with modified CR-g-MAH for self vulcanization. The optimum amounts of ENR was 30 wt% in terms of scorch time and curing rate. MRE was manufactured by electromagnetic equipment and orientation of MRE was confirmed by SEM. Finally, it was found that the tensile strength of anisotropic-MRE was higher than that of isotropic-MRE and the hardness was reverse.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.943-966
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• 2016

Recently, magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) material and its devices have been developed and attracted a good deal of attention for their potentials in vibration control. Among them, a highly adaptive base isolator based on MRE was designed, fabricated and tested for real-time adaptive control of base isolated structures against a suite of earthquakes. To perfectly take advantage of this new device, an accurate and robust model should be built to characterize its nonlinearity and hysteresis for its application in structural control. This paper first proposes a novel hysteresis model, in which a nonlinear hyperbolic sine function spring is used to portray the strain stiffening phenomenon and a Voigt component is incorporated in parallel to describe the solid-material behaviours. Then the fruit fly optimization algorithm (FFOA) is employed for model parameter identification using testing data of shear force, displacement and velocity obtained from different loading conditions. The relationships between model parameters and applied current are also explored to obtain a current-dependent generalized model for the control application. Based on the proposed model of MRE base isolator, a second-order sliding mode controller is designed and applied to the device to provide a real-time feedback control of smart structures. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated in simulation through utilizing a three-storey benchmark building model under four benchmark earthquake excitations. The results verify the effectiveness of the proposed current-dependent model and corresponding controller for semi-active control of MRE base isolator incorporated smart structures.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.39-43
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• 2016

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are a type of “smart” material, and their properties can be controlled rapidly and reversibly under the influence of an external stimulus. The application of an external magnetic field can change the shear modulus, hardness, and friction coefficient of MREs. The friction can cause vibration; moreover, the vibration can affect friction. The change of friction depends on the relative motion, normal force, roughness of the rubbing surfaces, material type, temperature, lubrication, relative humidity, and vibration condition. As MREs are a type of “smart material,” their friction coefficient can be reduced by applying an external magnetic field—the applications of this feature in engineering have been widely studied. However, the friction properties of MREs under vibration have not been tested to date. In this study, MRE samples and a reciprocating friction tester were fabricated. The friction coefficient was measured to evaluate the friction properties under various vibration conditions; subsequently, the wear depth and wear surface profile of the MRE were observed in order to evaluate the wear properties. The results show that the friction coefficient of the MREs decreased when a magnetic field was applied. Moreover, the friction coefficient decreased when the vibrational amplitudes increased. The wear depth of the MRE also decreased as the vibrational amplitudes increased.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.705-714
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• 2022

In this paper, the effect of magnetic field on the vibration behavior of a Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) sandwich MEMS actuated by electrostatic actuation with conductive skins are examined within the multiple scales (MMS) perturbation method. Magnetorheological smart materials have been widely used in vibration control of various systems due to their mechanical properties change under the influence of different magnetic fields. To investigate the vibrational behavior of the movable electrode, the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, as well as Hamilton's principle is used to derive the equations and the related boundary conditions governing the dynamic behavior of the system are applied. The results of this study show that by placing the Magnetorheological elastomer core in the movable electrode and applying different magnetic fields on it, its natural vibrational frequency can be affected so that by increasing the applied magnetic field, the system's natural frequency increases. Also, the effect of various factors such as the electric potential difference between two electrodes, changes in the thickness of the core and the skins, electrode length, the distance between two electrodes and also change in vibration modes of the system on natural frequencies have been investigated.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2015

This paper investigates the stick-slip characteristic of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) between an aluminum plate and the surface of the MRE. MRE is a smart material and it can change its mechanical behavior with the interior iron particles under the influence of an applied magnetic field. Stick-slip is a movement of two surfaces relative to each other that proceeds as a series of jerks caused by alternate sticking from friction and sliding when the friction is overcome by an applied force. This special tribology phenomenon can lead to unnecessary wear, vibration, noise, and reduced service life of work piece. The stick-slip phenomenon is avoided as far as possible in the field of mechanical engineering. As this phenomenon is a function of material property, applied load, and velocity, it can be controlled using the characteristics of MRE. MRE as a soft smart material, whose mechanical properties such as modulus and stiffness can be changed via the strength of an external magnetic field, has been widely studied as a prospective replacement for general rubber in the mechanical domain. In this study, friction force is measured under different loads, speed, and magnetic field strength. From the test results, it is confirmed that the stick-slip phenomenon can be minimized under optimum conditions and can be applied in various mechanical components.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.885-886
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• 2011

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.927-929
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• 2014

MRE(Magneto-rheological Elastomer) is a material which shows reversible and various modulus in magnetic field. Comparing to conventional rubber vibration isolator, MREs are able to absorb broader frequency range of vibration. These characteristic phenomena result from the orientation of magnetic particle (i.e., chain-like formation). Magnetic reactive powder(MRP), having rapid magnetic reaction, was selected as a magnetic particle to give magnetic field reactive modulus. The mechanical properties of manufactured MREs were measured with the application of magnetic field. The analysis of MR effect was carried out by FFT analyzer with various induced current. As induced magnetic field intensity increased and coated with MRP, increment of MR effect was observed.