Abstract: A magneto-rheological (MR) shock damper for a 12.7 mm machine gun test application is discussed. Based on Herschel-Bulkley shear model, a one-dimensional axisymmetric laminar flow model of the MR damper is constructed. The finite element analysis of magnetic field of the MR valve of the damper is done via ANSYS package, and the magnetic flux density of the annular duct of the MR valve is obtained. Combining the MR fluid flow model and the FEM model of the MR valve, the relation curves of damping force and piston velocity of the MR damper is computed. Using the force-velocity characteristics of the MR damper, a drop-mass impact test and a 12.7 mm gun firing test for the MR recoil damper is numerically simulated. The theoretical and experimental results are compared, and it indicates that good consistency between test and simulation can be achieved when applied magnetic field is low.

Key words: Shock load, Magneto-rheological (MR) damper, Numerical simulation