Structural Optimization of Clutch Activated by Magnetorheological Fluid

摘要

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are suspensions of micron sized ferromagnetic particles dispersed in varying proportions of a variety of non-ferromagnetic fluids. MR fluids exhibit rapid, reversible and significant changes in their rheological (mechanical) properties while subjected to an external magnetic field. In this paper, a double-plate magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) clutch with controllable torque output have been designed. Electromagnetic finite element analysis is used to optimize the design of the clutch. The geometric constraints and the magnetic properties of materials are controlling parameters in the optimization process which is used to determine the design parameters of the MRF clutch in order to let the magnetic field in the MRF domain is as higher as possible. Meanwhile, the theoretical torque output has also been calculated for a given input electric current by using the Bingham plastic constitutive model.