Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) is a new class of smart materials, whose
mechanical properties can be continuously and rapidly controlled by an applied
magnetic field. A compression MRE isolator was designed and fabricated. The
mechanical tests were conducted by instron. The dynamic properties of MRE
isolator were studied by frequency sweeping tests, using vibration table under
1 g acceleration excitation with different currents. The peak value of the
transmissibility was decreased by 29.7% and the natural frequency of the single
degree of freedom (SDOF) system approximately increased by 18.54% while the
current varied from 0.0 A to 4.0 A. Moreover, the equivalent stiffness and
damping coefficients were identified from experimental data. In order to further
evaluate the effectiveness of MRE isolator for vibration control, the SDOF
inertial measurement unit (IMU) isolation system was simulated under random
vibration conditions. The peak acceleration of power spectral density (PSD)
was decreased by 48.8% when applying a series of constant currents. The
study verifies that the compression MRE isolator is capable of increasing
system stiffness, changing system natural frequency and decreasing system
vibration.
