Seismic Protection
Civil and structural engineers are protecting buildings and their occupants with our MR technology. LORD MR fluid devices enlarge the control envelope of base-isolation and distributed-damping systems that protect against earthquakes — against both initial shocks and aftershocks.
Our MR Solutions Benefit
- High dissipative force at low velocity. Unlike with variable orifice dampers, force is not wholly dependent upon velocity, enabling superior mitigation of a broader range of seismic activity. This capability is especially important in mitigating aftershocks, which can be even more damaging than the initial shock.
- Continual optimization. Unlike passive systems that are tuned once according to an inferred optimum setting, our MR devices continually optimize the rheology (stiffness) of their fluid up to 100 Hz. Further, this controllable re-tuning occurs more quickly with MR than with alternative semi-active solutions.
- High dynamic range. The ratio of the maximum force to the minimum force that our MR devices provide is much greater than that of any other controllable damper, particularly at low velocities. Unlike friction dampers, MR dampers experience comparatively very low levels of stiction.
- Inherent stability and failure-safety. Unlike active dampers that require large power sources, our semi-active MR dampers fail-safe to a passive damping mode.
- Mechanical simplicity. Our MR damper valves have no moving parts, reducing maintenance concerns and potential expense.
- Fast response-time. Because our MR damper valves have no moving parts, their response time is significantly faster than that of variable-orifice dampers.
- Small device size. MR technology enables smaller device sizes than with hydraulic or mechanical systems, leading to aesthetic and practical benefits.
- Large temperature range. Importantly, our MR materials can operate under the extreme conditions often associated with catastrophic events; our MR dampers have an operating temperature range of -40° C to 130° C, with no significant variation in performance.