Electrorheological squeeze-flow shock absorber

We developed a squeeze-flow shock absorber and tested it under impact condi tions typical of heavy-duty recoil mechanisms. In contrast to common shear- flow shock absorbers, here the volume of fluid driven by the piston does no t flow through the regions of high electric field. Experiments on three com mercially available "dry" ER fluids showed that only the Bayer fluid was ab le to exhibit electric-field-induced stresses under our test conditions. Bu t the results which were obtained with this fluid illustrate the numerous a dvantages to be gained by utilizing a squeeze-flow shock absorber in advanc ed systems subjected to impact disturbances and destructive vibrations.