Variable Inertia Damper Using a Flywheel Filled by MR Fluid

To get a variable inertia effect for vibration reduction, a semiactive damper using a flywheel filled by MR fluid was developed. The damper comprises a ball screw mechanism and the flywheel, which is able to change a moment of inertia. MR fluid is filled into the flywheel. Particles are clustered at outer circumference edge inside the wheel when the magnetic field is applied to the wheel edge, so the moment of inertia on the flywheel can be changed artificially. The prototype device was manufactured, and the dynamic performance was investigated. Finally the changeable inertia effect was confirmed experimentally.