Magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) characterization, optimization and condition monitoring for aircraft flight control actuators

航空航天业正面临着政治、社会和经济方面的压力，需要开发更清洁、更轻的飞机**，这些飞机由环保材料和节能技术制造。其中一项关键技术是开发机电致动器（EMA），以取代传统的液压致动器用于飞行控制面。在开发实用的飞行控制电磁干扰系统的主要问题是可靠性，因为传统的齿轮和螺旋机构可能会卡住并导致灾难性的故障。第一个NSERC-CRIAQ项目（ENV404）表明，用于连续滑移驱动（CSA）的磁流变液（MRF）旋转离合器具有高控制带宽、高功率重量比和高可靠性，可以很好地满足航空航天运动控制要求。这项新的NSERC-CRIAQ-CARIC项目提案（ENV709）的目标是提供MRF执行器在直升机飞行控制应用中的实际应用所需的知识和理解。最突出的挑战是MRF的耐久性和最佳离合器的设计。提出的研究将对MRF的降解进行深入的实验表征。将对流体进行分析，并对降解过程进行识别和量化。基于研究结果，将提出并验证改进的磁流变场和离合器设计。提出状态监测策略，并开发磁流变液状态监测传感器技术。最后，将为典型的飞行控制应用制作全功能MRF致动器原型，并在模拟飞行测试条件的全尺寸耐力试验台上进行测试。该研究将通过提供必要的知识来完成一种新的有前途的驱动技术的开发，从而推动航空航天和机器人领域的发展，用于CSA的MRF旋转离合器。这项研究将为加拿大航空航天工业提供专有的新技术，这将成为加拿大在航空航天领域竞争力的战略资产。**

The aerospace industry is facing political, social, and economic pressure to develop cleaner and lighter aircrafts**made from environmentally friendly materials and using energy efficient technologies. One key technology is the development of Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA) to replace conventional hydraulic actuators for flight control surfaces. The main issue in developing practical EMAs for flight control is reliability as traditional gears and screw mechanisms can seize and lead to catastrophic failures. A first NSERC-CRIAQ project (ENV404) demonstrated that MagnetoRheological **Fluid (MRF) rotary clutches for Continuous Slippage Actuation (CSA) can advantageously meet aerospace motion control requirements with their high control bandwidth, high power-to-weight ratios, and high reliability. The goal of this new NSERC-CRIAQ-CARIC project proposal (ENV709) is to provide the knowledge and understanding required to enable practical applications of MRF actuators for helicopter flight control applications. The most prominent remaining challenge is the **durability of MRF and the design of optimal clutches. The proposed research will conduct an in-depth experimental characterization of the degradation of MRF. Fluids will be analyzed and the degradation process identified and quantified. Based on findings, improved MRF and clutch designs will be proposed and verified. Condition monitoring strategies will be proposed and a MRF condition monitoring sensor technology will be developed. Finally, a fully functional MRF actuator will be prototyped for a typical flight control application and the actuator will be tested on a full-scale endurance test bench replicating flight test conditions. The research will advance the field of aerospace and robotics by providing the knowledge necessary to complete the development of a new promising actuation technology, MRF rotary clutches used in CSA. The**research will provide Canadian aerospace industry with proprietary new technology that will become a strategic**asset for Canada's competitiveness in the aerospace sector. **