Characteristics analysis for the magnetorheological mount of squeeze-shear mixed mode

Abstract Existing mixed-mode magnetorheological (MR) mounts typically employ multiple coils to control distinct shear and squeeze zones, resulting in a physical superposition of forces rather than functional integration. This paper proposes a novel mixed-mode MR mount design featuring a tilted damping channel. Unlike conventional designs, this structure achieves ‘genuine mode mixing’ through geometric kinematic coupling, where a single coil actuates the fluid to simultaneously undergo squeeze and shear deformation within the same control volume. Finite element analysis was employed to investigate the influence of key structural parameters (horizontal clearance, tilt angle) and excitation conditions (amplitude, current intensity) on the magnetic flux density and damping force within the damping channel. Simulation results demonstrate that the magnetic flux density is highly sensitive to the coupling between the tilt angle and clearance size, and optimizing these parameters can further enhance both magnetic flux density and damping force. Furthermore, the squeeze-shear mixed-mode design significantly enhances damping performance during the downward movement of the inner core and broadens the damping force adjustment range.Finally, a prototype was fabricated and tested to validate the theoretical model. The experimental results reveal force-displacement trends consistent with simulation predictions, providing solid empirical support for the proposed design in improving vibration isolation performance.