An improved constant deceleration control method with extended shock velocity range for magnetorheological energy absorber

This paper proposed an extended constant deceleration (ECD) control method that can be used in the shock mitigation system with magnetorheological energy absorbers (MREAs). The ECD control method has three sections: zero controllable force (ZCF) section, constant deceleration (CD) section, and maximum damping force (MDF) section. Under the control of ECD, the system can stop at the end of MREA stroke without exceeding the maximum allowable deceleration. The ECD control algorithm is derived in a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system. The controllable velocity range and the required controllable damping force of ECD control method are also derived, which can provide feasible solutions for the design of shock isolation system with MREAs. The performance of ECD control method is shown by applying to the drop-induced shock mitigation system with different drop velocities, different maximum controllable damping force, and MREA stroke. The results shows that the ECD control method not only has a large controllable velocity range and small controllable damping force requirement, but also can minimize the load transmitted to the system.