Development of multiple-disk brake element using electro-rheological gel

Issue title: Selected Papers from the 14th International Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics (ISEM 2009), Part II

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kakunuma, Yasuhiro^{a; *} | Tanaka, Hidetaka^a | Aoyama, Tojiro^a | Anzai, Hidenobu^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan | [b] Fujikura kasei Co., Ltd., 2-6-15 Shibakouen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Yasuhiro Kakinuma, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kouhoku, Yokohama, Japan. Tel.: +81 45 566 1657; Fax: +81 45 566 1721; E-mail: kakinuma@sd.keio.ac.jp

Abstract: Electro-rheological gel (ERG) is a functional elastomer, which changes its surface adhesive property according to the intensity of electric field. In this study, ERG is applied to multiple-disk brake element to realize both simplification of structure and wide range of controlled brake torque. First, static performance of ERG multiple-disk brake (ERG-MDB) is evaluated experimentally. It is clear that a generated brake torque depends on an electric field and the number of layer of ERG. ERG-MDB with 6 layers shows 5 times brake torque as high as that with 1 layer. Second, considering the dynamical model of the ERG-MDB, dynamic performance is investigated through the forced vibration test. The result shows that dynamic damping and stiffness coefficients are changed widely according to applied electric field.

Keywords: ER gel, Electro-adhesive effect, brake element

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2010-1300

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 33, no. 3-4, pp. 1677-1683, 2010