Multilayers Preisach model for magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) modelling optimized with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and PID–skyhook control of an active front bumper system

In this study, an active front bumper device is designed to reduce the impact on a vehicle in the case of a road accident. Road accidents can inflict harm on an automobile's body, especially on the front bumper, which is referred to as a crumple zone and can injure passengers. In order to reduce the effect of a frontal collision, an active front bumper system based on the Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) isolator was developed. This is a result of MRE's exceptional ability to absorb impact force in the presence of a magnetic field. Therefore, the goal of this work is to create a mathematical model of a real vehicle's crumple zone, analyze the dual-acting MRE isolator's impact behavior, and create a control strategy for assessing the MRE isolator's impact behavior in three different types of impact collisions which are light, medium, and hard. The initial stage of the methodology was the development of a mathematical model that represents the crumple zone. This model is developed using Multiple Kelvin Model (MKM) that consists of seven mass-spring-damper systems. The model is optimized for the parameters of spring stiffness, k and damping coefficient, c using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) methods. This optimization process is conducted in order to compare the simulation outcomes with the experimental results obtained from Actual Crash Data (ACD). Subsequently, a double acting Magnetorheological Elastomer isolator is fabricated and simulated using a Multi-Layer Preisach model to characterize the impact behavior of a double acting MRE isolator. Next, the model is validated using experimental data from drop impact tests on MRE samples with the various currents ranging from 0-2 A and trained using PSO. In addition, an interpolate model of the MRE isolator is used to predict the 0.3, 0.7, 1.3, and 1.7 A force and displacement characteristics for the intermediate current. Furthermore, the best performance of the control structure can be achieved by using a combination of controllers such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) and skyhook controller for the active front bumper model. The present study investigates the efficacy of the suggested control system in attaining the desired force during impact collisions across three distinct scenarios which are light impact (83.25 kN), medium impact (333.02 kN), and heavy impact (749.28 kN). The vehicle test rig is utilized to conduct experiments using varying masses of impactors in order to obtain measurements of acceleration and displacement. The implementation of the active front bumper system has demonstrated a significant reduction in the magnitude of frontal collisions. Specifically, the system has achieved a reduction of 50.71%, 47.32%, and 33.47% in acceleration results, and 50.00%, 26.96%, and 13.80% in displacement results. These outcomes have been seen across three distinct impact force cases, namely light, medium, and strong collisions.