Affiliations: [a] School of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China | [b] College of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Abstract: This paper presents a new configuration and optimal
design of a novel multilayered cylindrical magnetorheological (MR) brake.
Compared to the traditional ones, this designed MR brake employs several
coils setting along the circumferential direction in order to increase the
magnetic field strength within the MR fluid. Four annular working gaps of
each serpentine gap are used to reduce the effect of centrifugal force at
high speed rotating conditions. Furthermore, this novel MR brake provides
flexible options for torque enhancement because either the axial or radial
dimensions of the working gaps can be adjusted. After describing the
structure, exact closed-form expressions of the braking torque have been
derived in order to calculate the braking torque and evaluate the merits of
the designed MR brake. The magnetic circuit analysis of the MR brake is
conducted to theoretically estimate the magnetic field strength in the
working gaps. After that, simulations were performed to optimize the
structure sizes of the designed MR brake, and evaluate its performance. The
results indicate that the proposed MR brake can generate a considerable
braking torque while maintaining a feasible magnetic circuit design and a
compact structure.
