As the speed of high-speed train increases, the transverse vibration suffered by the train body becomes increasingly intense, especially where the transverse resonance frequency of the car body occurs. This greatly affects the ride comfort and the safety of the train. To provide an effective strategy to control the transverse vibration, a novel semi-active magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) isolator which is capable of varying stiffness and performing negative stiffness is designed. The characteristic of the negative stiffness will soften the system stiffness so that the vibration transmissibility will be reduced, thereby improving the ride comfort and safety of the high-speed train. MTS test was conducted to verify the characteristics of stiffness variability and negative stiffness. Simulations and experimental have been carried out and the results show that this new semi-active control system with MRE isolator with negative stiffness characteristics has better vibration damping performance than the passive system and the general MRE isolation system. Furthermore, the vibration damping performance is comparable to that of the existing active suspension.

Magnetorheological technology; Vibration control; Negative stiffness; Variable stiffness.