Semi-active Torsional Vibrations Control of a Rotor Using a Smart ER Dynamic Absorber

Torsional rotor vibration is always very difficult to control since the implementation of a control system is not an easy task while the machine is rotating. Excessive torsional vibration can lead to failures of many mechanical components. A common method for controlling vibrations involves the use of dynamic absorbers. Due to their variable properties, smart materials can be used to increase the frequency range in order to control vibration. This article is concerned with the application of Electrorheological Fluids (ERF) to the reduction of torsional vibrations of a rotor by controlling damping and stiffness of a rotational dynamic absorber. A cylindrical type of electrorheological (ER) torsional absorber is designed and manufactured according to the required damping force level and the critical velocity of the rotor system. This paper presents torsional vibration control performance of a smart ER dynamic absorber using a bang-bang (ON-OFF) control strategy. The experimental results very closely approximate the simulation results. These results show that the ER dynamic absorber exhibits very good performances in terms of reducing the torsional vibration of rotor system.