Analysis and Optimisation of Magnetorheological Dampers Using Ansys Workbench

This paper presents the analysis and optimisation of damper featuring magnetorheological fluid (MRF), shortly called MR dampers, numerically using finite element method. In other words, this work documents the analysis and optimisation of MR dampers using finite element method and design optimisation function provided by ANSYS Workbench software package. Firstly, the performance of a MR damper is analysed using ANSYS Parameter Design Language (APDL). The APDL program used to analyse the behaviour of the MRF damper is then implemented into the ANSYS Workbench Design Optimisation Tool to perform design optimisation. Different single objective optimisation methods were implemented to minimise the objective function derived for the MR damper at different configurations. The optimisation analysis will be extended to prototype MR dampers and evaluate their performances.