• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.101-118
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• 2018

In case of conventional shallow-draft semisubmersibles, unacceptably large riser stroke was the restricting factor for dry-tree-riser-semisubmersible development. Many attempts to address this issue have focused on using larger draft and size with extra heave-damping plates, which results in a huge cost increase. The objective of this paper is to investigate an alternative solution by improving riser systems through the implementation of a magneto-rheological damper (MR Damper) so that it can be used with moderate-size/draft semisubmersibles. In this regard, MR-damper riser systems and connections are numerically modeled so that they can couple with hull-mooring time-domain simulations. The simulation results show that the moderate-size semisubmersible with MR damper system can be used with conventional dry-tree pneumatic tensioners by effectively reducing stroke-distance even in the most severe (1000-yr) storm environments. Furthermore, the damping level of the MR damper can be controlled to best fit target cases by changing input electric currents. The reduction in stroke allows smaller topside deck spacing, which in turn leads to smaller deck and hull. As the penalty of reducing riser stroke by MR damper, the force on the MR-damper can significantly be increased, which requires applying optimal electric currents.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.861-867
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• 2014

In this study, a semi-active isolator was constructed from applying a MR damper that used the MR fluid to an isolator. The parameter identification was also performed to determine the characteristics of this semi-active isolator during which the least squares method and the auxiliary variable method were applied to produce a value closest to the true value. In addition, the MR damper's nonlinear damping force was closely analyzed to greatly reduce the range of error. Based on this analysis, it was discovered that the parameter tended to increase with more electric current. Such analysis of the dynamic properties of semi-active isolator proved that constructing an isolator that provides a more stable operation could be achieved.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.359-371
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• 2018

Strong seismic events commonly cause large drift and deformation, and functionality failures in the superstructures. One way to prevent functionality failures is to design structures which are ductile and flexible through yielding when subjected to strong ground excitations. By developing forces that assist motion as "negative stiffness forces", yielding can be achieved. In this paper, we adopt the weakening and damping method to achieve a new approach to reduce all of the structural responses by further adjusting damping phase. A semi-active control system is adopted to perform the experiments. In this adaptation, negative stiffness forces through certain devices are used in weakening phase to reduce structural strength. Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are then added to preserve stability of the structure. To adjust the voltage in MR dampers, an inverse model is employed in the control system to command MR dampers and generate the desired control forces, where a velocity control algorithm produces initial required control force. An extensive numerical study is conducted to evaluate proposed methodology by using the smart base-isolated benchmark building. Totally, nine control systems are examined to study proposed strategy. Based on the numerical results of seven earthquakes, the use of proposed strategy not only reduces base displacements, base accelerations and base shear but also leads to reduction of accelerations and inter story drifts of the superstructure. Numerical results shows that the usage of inverse model produces the desired regulated damping, thus improving the stability of the structure.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.52-59
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• 2004

In this paper, the efficacy of the MR damper-based control systems for vibration suppression of stay cables has been experimentally investigated. The performance of the several control strategies for the semiactive control system, such as the clipped-optimal control, the Lyapunov stability theory-based control, the maximum energy dissipation and the modulated homogeneous friction, has been compared with that of the passive-type control systems employing MR dampers. To do this, the full-scale stay cable, which is the same as used for the in-service cable-stayed bridge in Korea, is considered. The acceleration and the displacement of the stay cable as well as the damping force of the MR damper are measured. The velocity of the cable at the damper location, which is needed for some control algorithms, is obtained by differentiating the measured displacement. The damping ratios of the cable system employing the MR damper, which can be estimated by the Hilbert transform-based method, shows effectiveness of each control strategy considered.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.435-443
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• 2010

This study presents key parameters for the structure installed with MR controller in reducing its responses. MR controller is regarded as Bingham model of which control forces are frictional and viscous ones. The parameters are identified as friction force ratios, $R_f$ and $R_h$ which are, respectively, ratio of MR controller friction force to static restoring force for free vibration and ratio of the friction force to amplitude of harmonic force. Structure-MR controller system shows nonlinear response behavior due to friction force. Energy balance strategy is adopted to transform the behavior to linear one with equivalent damping ratio. Finally, proposed equivalent linear process is compared to the nonlinear one, which turns out to give acceptably good results.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.489-506
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• 2018

This paper reported test of full-scale cables attached with four types of dampers: viscous damper, passive Magneto-Rheological (MR) damper, friction damper and High Damping Rubber (HDR) damper. The logarithmic decrements of the cable with attached dampers were calculated from free vibration time history. The efficiency ratios of the mean damping ratios of the tested four dampers to theoretical maximum damping ratio were derived, which was very important for practical damper design and parameter optimization. Non-ideal factors affecting damper performance were discussed based on the test results. The effects of concentrated mass and negative stiffness were discussed in detail and compared theoretically. Approximate formulations were derived and verified using numerical solutions. The critical values for non-dimensional concentrated mass coefficient and negative stiffness were identified. Efficiency ratios were approximately 0.6, 0.6, and 0.3 for the viscous damper, passive MR damper and HDR damper, respectively. The efficiency ratio for the friction damper was between 0-1.0. The effects of concentrated mass and negative stiffness on cable damping were positive as both could increase damping ratio; the concentrated mass was more effective than negative stiffness for higher vibration modes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.537-551
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• 2019

In this paper, a method for analyzing the damping performance of stay cables incorporating magnetorheological (MR) dampers in the passive control mode is developed taking into account the cable sag and inclination, the damper coefficient, stiffness and mass, and the stiffness of damper support. Both numerical and asymptotic solutions are obtained from complex modal analysis. With the asymptotic solution, analytical formulas that evaluate the equivalent damping ratio of the sagged cable-damper system in consideration of all the above parameters are derived. The main thrust of the present study is to develop an general design formula and a universal curve for the optimal design of MR dampers for adjustable passive control of sagged cables. Two sag-affecting coefficients are derived to reflect the effects of cable sag on the maximum attainable damping ratio and the optimal damper coefficient. For the cable configurations commonly used in cable-stayed bridges, the sag-affecting coefficients are directly expressed in terms of the sag-extensibility parameter to facilitate the control design. A case study on adjustable passive vibration control of the longest cable (536 m) on Stonecutters Bridge is carried out to demonstrate the influence of the sag for the damper design, and to figure out the necessity of adjustability of damper coefficients for achieving maximum damping ratio for different vibration modes.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.626-631
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• 2007

MR(Magneto-rheological) fluid is smart material that can be changed viscosity by controlling the magnetic field. MR damper with MR fluid can control damping force. It can be used extensively many engineering structures for reducing the effect of dynamic external disturbances. There are three kinds of MR dampers, such as valve mode, direct-shear mode and squeeze mode. In this study, design process of direct-shear mode MR damper with the MR fluid gap was developed. The parameters that used in the direct-shear mode MR damper Informed from the experiment of valve mode MR damper of Lord company. Magnetic analysis with finite element method was performed to find the optimal annular gap.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-84
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• 2013

A semi-active mass damping (SMD) system with magnetorheological (MR) dampers focusing on low- and mid-rise buildings is proposed in this paper. The main purpose of this study is to integrate the reliable characteristics of the traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) and the superior performance of the active mass damper (AMD) to the new system. In addition, the commonly seen solution of deploying dense seismic dampers throughout the structure nowadays to protect the main structure is also expected to switch to the developed SMD system on the roof with a similar reduction performance. In order to demonstrate this concept, a full-size three-story steel building representing a typical mid-rise building was used as the benchmark structure to verify its performance in real life. A numerical model with the interpolation technique integrated was first established to accurately predict the behavior of the MR dampers. The success of the method was proven through a performance test of the designated MR damper used in this research. With the support of the MR damper model, a specific control algorithm using a continuous-optimal control concept was then developed to protect the main structure while the response of the semi-active mass damper is discarded. The theoretical analysis and the experimental verification from a shaking table test both demonstrated the superior mitigation ability of the method. The proposed SMD system has been demonstrated to be readily implemented in practice.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2008

This paper presents optimal design of controllable magnetorheological(MR) shock absorbers for passenger vehicle. In order to achieve this goal, two MR shock absorbers (one for front suspension; one for rear suspension) are designed using an optimization methodology based on design specifications for a commercial passenger vehicle. The optimization problem is to find optimal geometric dimensions of the magnetic circuits for the front and rear MR shock absorbers in order to improve the performance such as damping force as an objective function. The first order optimization method using commercial finite element method(FEM) software is adopted for the constrained optimization algorithm. After manufacturing the MR shock absorbers with optimally obtained design parameters, their field-dependent damping forces are experimentally evaluated and compared with those of conventional shock absorbers. In addition, vibration control performances of the full-vehicle installed with the proposed MR shock absorbers are evaluated under bump road condition and obstacle avoidance test.