Self-powered electrorheological fluid damper driven by triboelectric nanogenerator for vibration mitigation of rotating system

Abstract Rotating machinery with complex vibrations is widely utilized in engineering applications. Variable damping provides an effective solution for adapting to dynamic conditions, mitigating resonance, and thereby enhancing stability and longevity. electrorheological fluid (ERF) is a smart material that can be powered by the high voltage generated from a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), an emerging technology that converts mechanical energy into electricity. Here, we present a TENG-driven ERF damper capable of self-powered and variable-damping functions for rotational vibration mitigation. The electrorheological properties of the ERF were thoroughly characterized, revealing excellent electro-active mechanical properties, including yield stress and dynamic modulus. A disc-type TENG with a gridded structure was designed based on the principle of converting rotational motion into relative sliding between interdigitated electrodes and the triboelectric layer, generating a high-voltage output of up to 4 kV. By integrating the rotational ERF damper with this disc-type TENG, we achieved self-powered and tunable damping performance. Vibration reduction testing on a constructed rotating system demonstrated that the damper effectively attenuated resonance peaks, reducing vibration levels by 18.29% vertically and 29.20% horizontally compared to the original system. Furthermore, the damper’s output exhibits a self-power supply capability dependent on rotational speed, enabling effective vibration mitigation across a broader rotational speed range.