Title: Design and characterisation of magnetorheological brake system

Authors: Ahmad Zaifazlin bin Zainordin; Khisbullah Hudha; Hishamuddin Jamaluddin; Nur Rashid bin Mat Nuri

Addresses: Vehicle Dynamic and Control Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper investigates the performance of a magnetorheological brake (MR brake) system in terms of torque generated by various electric currents at various rotational shaft speeds. The MR brake consists of a rotating disc immersed with magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) in an enclosure of an electromagnetic coil. The applied magnetic field will increase the yield strength of the MR fluid, which will decrease the speed of the rotating shaft. Then, different speeds were applied to the MR brake system continuously by changing the applied electric current. The methodology begins with the design using 3D modelling software followed by the development of a mathematical model of the MR brake. Then, magnetostatic analysis using ANSYS software was done by considering three parameters, which are magnetic field intensity, magnetic flux density and 2D flux lines. The torque response of the MR brake from the simulation was validated with experimental results and discussed. It can be noted that the MR brake torque increases proportionally with the increase in current and independent with varying speeds.

Keywords: magnetorheological brake system; MR brakes; magnetorheological fluids; MR fluids; finite element analysis; FEA; torque response; shaft response; mathematical modelling; rotational shaft speeds; braking systems; 3D modelling; magnetic field intensity; magnetic flux density; 2D flux lines; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2015.066133

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.62 - 70

Accepted: 29 Nov 2013
Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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