The controllable fluid dashpot damper performance

The use of smart dampers to optimally control the response of structures is on the increase. To maximize the potential use of such damper systems, their accurate modeling and assessment of their performance is of vital interest. In this study, the performance of a controllable fluid dashpot damper, in terms of damper forces, damper dynamic range and damping force hysteretic loops, respectively, is studied mathematically. The study employs a damper Bingham-Maxwell (BingMax) model whose mathematical formulation is developed using a Fourier series technique. The technique treats this one-dimensional Navier-Stokes's momentum equation as a linear superposition of initial-boundary value problems (IBVPs): boundary conditions, viscous term, constant Direct Current (DC) induced fluid plug and fluid inertial term. To hold the formulation applicable, the DC current level to the damper is supplied as discrete constants. The formulation and subsequent simulation are validated with experimental results of a commercially available magneto rheological (MR) dashpot damper (Lord model No's RD-1005-3) subjected to a sinusoidal stroke motion using a 'SCHENK' material testing machine in the Materials Laboratory at the University of Technology, Sydney.