Transient Analysis of Directional Magneto Rheological Fluid Valve Using Computational Fluid Dynamic

Abstract

The MRF valve have been designed and developed by many researchers. However, the behaviour of the fluids in the valve, how fluid reacts and the characteristic of the fluid flow in the valve still lack in info and research. It is important to understand the MR fluid flow in the valve for later we can design an optimal control system of the MR fluid valve. In designing the control system, to understand the MR fluid behaviour and characteristic is very crucial as it will affect the valve pressure drop. On the other hand, the hydraulic actuator movement is dependent on the pressure difference in the valve. Therefore, it is important to analyze the MR fluid flow behaviour and characteristic to identify the pressure drops transient response of MRF valve with varying in magnetic field. n analyzing the MR fluid flow in the valve, the CFD approach is most suitable. The difficulties that occur in making a computer modelling is that, first, the viscosity change with the change of the magnetic field. Hence, the appropriate viscosity of MR fluid model is to be determined. Next, for the case in this project, the flow of the MR fluid is in unsteady state, which the analysis must be based on time change. The viscosity model of Herschel Bulkley will be use for the analysis. From the CFD simulation, the results obtained have agreed with the experimental result and has shown a good agreement up to 5%. The magnetic field give significant has affected to pressure drop as shown in the magnetic theory.