A Current-Frequency Dependent Hysteresis Model for an Entangled Metallic Wire Mesh–Magnetorheological (EMWM-MR) Composite Damper: Characterization and Inertial Flow Dominated Dissipation Mechanism

Accurate modeling of smart composite dampers is crucial for simulation and model-based control. This study focuses on the constitutive modeling of a novel damper that synergistically combines an Entangled Metallic Wire Mesh (EMWM) with a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. Unlike traditional MR dampers, the interaction between the field-responsive MR fluid and the rate-sensitive, deformable EMWM matrix introduces strong coupled current–frequency dependence. To capture this essential characteristic, a control-oriented, bivariate (current–frequency) hysteresis model is formulated, wherein all parameters are explicit, continuous functions of both the control current (I) and excitation frequency (f). A systematic two-step identification method is employed to derive these functions from dynamic tests. A key finding is that the identified damping exponent (α) consistently exceeds unity across the tested operational range. This quantitatively indicates a transition from viscous-dominated to inertial-flow-dominated dissipation within the EMWM matrix, a distinctive mechanism attributed to non-Darcian flow in its porous structure. The fully parameterized model demonstrates high fidelity (R2 > 0.99) within the characterized low-frequency, small-amplitude regime and shows reliable predictive capability for interpolated conditions. The presented model serves as a ready-to-use constitutive tool for the simulation and design of low-frequency vibration isolation systems utilizing EMWM-MR composites, and the revealed inertial flow mechanism provides fundamental insight for the development of next-generation adaptive dampers.