Semi-active vibration control of MRF core PMC cantilever sandwich beams: Experimental study

The semi-active vibration control of sandwich beams made of chopped strand mat glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite (PMC) and magnetorheological fluid (MRF) core were experimentally investigated in this study. Two-, four- and six-layered glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composites were prepared using the hand-layup technique. The magnetorheological fluid was prepared in-house with 30% volume of carbonyl iron powder and 70% volume of silicone oil. Nine cantilever sandwich beams of varying thicknesses of the top and bottom layers glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite beams and middle magnetorheological fluid core were prepared. The magnetorheological fluid core was activated with a non-homogeneous magnetic field using permanent magnets. The first three modes, natural frequencies and damping ratios of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams were determined through free vibration analysis using DEWESoft modal analysis software. The amplitude frequency response of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams through forced vibration analysis was determined using LabVIEW. The effect of various parameters such as magnetic flux density, thickness of glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite layers and magnetorheological fluid core layer on the natural frequencies, damping ratio and vibration amplitude suppressions of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams was investigated. Based on the results obtained, 2 mm thickness top and bottom layers glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite and 5 mm thickness magnetorheological fluid core sample have achieved a high shift in increased natural frequency, damping ratio and vibration amplitude suppression under the influence of magnetic flux density.