Reconstructing Magnetic Hysteresis Behavior with Flux Model and Identifying Parameters for Dual-Coil MR Actuator

Magnetorheological (MR) actuators represent an important class of semi-active devices that have received extensive investigation and deployment in the field of vibration reduction systems. Their notable features include a significant reduction in energy consumption, along with an impressive tunable range of continuously controllable damping forces. The force output of these devices is a complex function that involves two hysteretic mechanisms: magnetic and mechanical (i.e. hydraulic). While the total hysteresis mechanism of these devices has been the subject of considerable study, comparatively little attention has been paid to their magnetic hysteretic behavior. In this study, the authors examine the behavior of the dual coil MR actuator’s control circuit and attempt to extract the magnetic flux information from the laboratory measurements of electrical signals applied to it. The study is further enhanced by the incorporation of the Bouc-Wen (B-W) hysteretic unit, which serves to replicate the flux-current (or magnetic) hysteretic relationship. The B-W model's parameters are identified through the use of a hybrid algorithm, namely the particle swarm optimization and fmincon hybrid optimizing strategy. It incorporates the advantages of both algorithms, resulting in an average improvement of 0.38% in standard deviation compared to fmincon, across 1A to 5A, when comparing the experimental and simulation data. This strategy is employed to fit the model predictions to the flux data, derived from the reconstructed flux and current in time histories. The findings of the study demonstrate that the B-W model is an effective tool for predicting the variation in magnetic flux in response to an exciting current. The results can be implemented for prototyping or validating a model-based controller for MR actuator systems.