Abstract: Magnetorheological(MR) elastomer is a new branch of magnetorheological materials. It is an interesting candidate for active-passive hybrid vibration control of structural systems because it has both advantages of magnetorheological fluid and elastomer material. Based on the squeezing mode, a MR elastomer isolator is designed and manufactured. Vibration responses of the isolator are experimentally tested under different applied electric currents and excited frequencies. The influences of applied electric current and excited frequency on the dynamic response characteristics and vibration-isolation effects are studied. Experimental results show the amplitudes and frequencies of vibration response peaks can be changed by the applied electric current and the vibration-isolation effect can be improved by an external electric current. It is demonstrated that the MR elastomer isolator has the adaptive ability of shifting its natural frequency and decreasing the vibration amplitudes when a control current is applied, and can be used in structure active-passive hybrid vibration isolation system.

Key words: Active-passive hybrid vibration control, Isolator, Magnetorheological elastomer, Vibration response