Simulation study of a vibration isolation system with nonlinear damping implemented by an MR damper

The main problem of using a conventional linear damper on a vibration isolation system is that the reduction of the resonant peak inevitably results in the degradation of the high-frequency transmissibility. Instead of using semi-active or active control methods which normally depend on the quality of measured signals and may have stability concerns, recent studies have revealed that optimal vibration isolation over a wide frequency range can be achieved by using nonlinear damping. The present study is concerned with the realisation of the ideal nonlinear damping characteristic using a feedback controlled MR damper. Simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of a simple but effective control strategy. This research work has signilicant implications for the design of MR dampers and the design of vibration control in a range of engineering applications.