Using magnetorheological(MR) fluid as distributed actuators for smart structures

An aluminium sandwich beam structure embedded with MR fluids was designed as a new type of distributed active vibration absorber to suppress unwanted structural vibrations. Based on the Kelvin-Voigt model and Hamilton principle, an analytical model for the MR sandwich beam is introduced in this paper. The relationship between the magnetic field and the complex shear modulus of the MR sandwich beam in the pre-yield regime is presented. The governing partial differential equations describing the dynamics of the MR sandwich beam are derived and a model analysis is performed. An active structural vibration controller based on Lyapunov stability theory is designed. Simulations show the stable response and improved transient performance provided by the MR fluid damper.