Practical interest in Magnetorheological Fluids derives from their ability to provide for rapid response interfaces between electronic controls and mechanical systems, which make them especially useful in control devices. The applications include semi-active shock absorber, valves, clutches, brakes and dampers for vibration reduction in automobiles and machineries and for earthquake damage control in bridges and buildings. MR fluid production levels in 2006 are on the order 100,000 liters per year. It is estimated that there are presently more than 250,000 MR dampers, shock absorbers, brakes and clutches in use worldwide. This number is expected to rise into the millions over the next ten years as more automotive platforms adopt smart MR fluid suspensions and fan clutch systems.
Since 2008, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) begin frontier project on this very advanced technology when one of UGM’s faculty staff (M.A. Bramantya) start his Ph.D. thesis in collaboration with Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, Japan supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA project for ASEAN University Networks/ Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network AUN/SEED-Net. Read the rest of this entry »
