Development and evaluation of an MRE-based absorber with two individually controllable natural frequencies

Adaptive tuned mass absorbers, which are based on magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) have

been widely accepted for vibration absorption due to their frequency shift capability. Wider

frequency bandwidth indicates more effectiveness in reducing vibrations. In order to broaden the

effective bandwidth of the MRE-based absorber, this study proposes a new design consisting of

an eccentric mass. This design enables the absorber to have two natural frequencies: the

rotational natural frequency and the translational one. These two natural frequencies can be

controlled separately by adjusting the MRE stiffness and the eccentric length. This design not

only broadens the effective bandwidth of the absorber, but enables the absorber to suppress

vibrations with multiple dominant frequencies. The characterization experiment verifies the

existence of the two natural frequencies and draws the conclusion that the translational natural

frequency is under the influence of the applied current, while the rotational natural frequency is

controlled by both the applied current and the eccentric length. The vibration reduction

effectiveness is then evaluated experimentally by mounting the MRE-based absorber on a

primary system.