SELF-COUPLED DAMPERS COMPOSED OF ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMICS

Based on the concept of intelligent structures, self-coupled dampers composed of electrorheological (ER) fluids and piezoelectric ceramics are proposed in this paper. Unlike the conventional ER dampers, the selfcoupled dampers employ piezoelectric ceramics to respond the external vibration and to provide the electric field for solidification of ER fluids. With a change in the external vibration, the electric field changes accordingly due to the piezoelectric ceramics, resulting in an adaptive control process. The self-coupled dampers have a simple and compact structure since the high voltage supply and the control system are not involved. Two generation products of the self-coupled dampers have been manufactured. Several modifications have been included in the second generation self-coupled damper and both the stabihty and the reliability of the damper are improved.