Electrically controlled adjustable-resistance exercise equipment employing magnetorheological fluid

Alex Lukianovich; Osama N. Ashour; Wilbert L. Thurston; Craig A. Rogers; Zaffir A. Chaudhry

doi:10.1117/12.239140

1 May 1996 Electrically controlled adjustable-resistance exercise equipment employing magnetorheological fluid

Alex Lukianovich, Osama N. Ashour, Wilbert L. Thurston, Craig A. Rogers, Zaffir A. Chaudhry

Proceedings Volume 2721, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.239140
Event: 1996 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1996, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids consist of stable suspensions of magnetic particles in a carrying fluid. The magnetorheological effect is one of the direct influences on the mechanical properties of a fluid. It represents a reversible increase, due to an external magnetic field, of the effective viscosity. Besides the variation of the rheological properties (viscosity, elasticity, and plasticity), the magnetic properties of the fluid (permeability and susceptibility), as well as the thermal and acoustic properties, are strongly influenced when an external magnetic field is applied. MR fluids have many appealing applications in the area of vibration control. The distinguishing feature of any MR fluid device is the absence of moving mechanical parts and the extreme simplicity of construction and technology. The most important element of any MR fluid device is an MR valve, which is functionally a controllable hydraulic resistance. As a demonstration of such devices, two commercially available pieces of exercise equipment, a cross stepper and a bench press, were modified to incorporate MR fluid and an external MR valve. As the magnetic field strength operating across the MR valve is adjusted, the viscosity of the flowing MR fluid changes and, accordingly, the needed force is adjusted.

Citation Download Citation

Alex Lukianovich, Osama N. Ashour, Wilbert L. Thurston, Craig A. Rogers, and Zaffir A. Chaudhry "Electrically controlled adjustable-resistance exercise equipment employing magnetorheological fluid", Proc. SPIE 2721, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, (1 May 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.239140

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