Experimental and Numerical Analyses of Torque Properties of a Separated Double-Chamber Rotary Damper Using Elastomer Particles

摘要

In this paper, the torque properties of a novel separated double-chamber rotary damper using elastomer particles instead of fluid have been introduced. The rotary elastomer particle damper was prototyped and experimentally tested. The effect of packing fraction, size of elastomer particles and rotational speed of the shaft on the damper torque of the rotary damper was investigated. It was noticed that increase in the damper torque of the rotary damper was observed with an increase in the packing fraction and size of elastomer particles. To understand the behavior of particles inside the damper, the qualitative and the quantitative analysis was conducted by numerical simulation using discrete element analysis method. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results, verifying the accuracy of the proposed simulation model. The numerical simulation also helped to analyze the working mechanism and high compressive regions inside the damper. The damper torque was found to increase as the packing ratio, rotational speed of the rotor and size of elastomer particles increased.