Anyone know if MR fluids are available on shocks for our trucks yet?

[Crunch]

Saw an interesting thing on NOVA last night about MR fluids (magnetorheological fluids) and their application to shocks. It's made by adding tiny iron particles to oil, and using a magnetic field to change the viscosity of the fluid. The NOVA program showed military humvees going over a road with standard shocks and shocks that used the MR fluid. The difference was nothing short of spectacular and in addition to smoothing out the ride, reduced wear on the vehicle itself. The smart shocks had computer controlled electromagnets in the pistons of the shocks to change the viscosity of the fluid as it passed through the holes. Here's the wiki article if anyone is interested:



Magnetorheological fluid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

A cousin of mine has worked for several years on these shocks and their application in various vehicles including the humvee. He has 25 patents to his name and some of those are connected with the MR shocks.

As far as being available for aftermarket I haven't heard of that yet. Would presumably be expensive as engineering would have to be done for each vehicle model.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[GCroyle]

When I saw the title, I knew you watched NOVA last night, wild stuff ain't it!

 

[bigblock_doc]

Same here. Government secret. Cool shocks, smooth ride.

Doc

 

[Bob V]

Our 2005 Cadillac SRX has them

 

[seafish]

Our 2005 Cadillac SRX has them

Just CURIOUS...



Do you like the way they handle and ride ??



Do you know who is making them for Cadillac ??



TIA

 

[Crunch]

A cousin of mine has worked for several years on these shocks and their application in various vehicles including the humvee. He has 25 patents to his name and some of those are connected with the MR shocks.

If he needs any beta testers, please direct him to the TDR!



I've been catching all the NOVA episodes on the materials science stuff. With the exception of the "Making Stuff Green" they have been excellent. Even that one was OK, but I did some checking on the tech they were promoting and a lot of it was over hyped. I was particularly interested in the Bloom Boxes for producing electricity, but the guy behind them seems a bit secretive and sketchy. But the stronger and smarter materials should have great applications to vehicles, especially trucks like ours. I'm also interested in hearing more about how the MR fluid works on the Caddy shocks.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Received an email indirectly from my cousin which had a link to the NOVA show mentioned above. While watching it I became aware that the featured LORD Corporation is exactly where my cousin has worked for several years. I know he does go to Nevada periodically to do testing with the Humvees and IIRC have heard him say that the MR system is nearly bulletproof (pun intended).

I will pass along your desire to be a beta tester for aftermarket kits but I'm guessing it will be a long wait.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[Crunch]

Received an email indirectly from my cousin which had a link to the NOVA show mentioned above. While watching it I became aware that the featured LORD Corporation is exactly where my cousin has worked for several years. I know he does go to Nevada periodically to do testing with the Humvees and IIRC have heard him say that the MR system is nearly bulletproof (pun intended).

Is the mention of Nevada your way of saying that your cousin works at Area 51, and the MR fluid shocks are alien technology?:-laf



Since you mentioned bulletproof, that same episode of NOVA had a segment on self-healing materials. The application they featured was its use on fuel tanks. Insurgents were firing at the fuel tanks on vehicles to get the fuel to leak out, then trying to ignite it or leave the vehicles stranded. The self-healing skin was composed of three layers. The first and third layers were a very elastic type of skin. The middle layer was composed of beads that expanded when they came into contact with the fuel. Layers 1 and 3 kept the tank from rupturing while the beads did their magic. The resulting hole was of a diameter like a toothpick, and only a slight spray of fuel escaped. The only exterior indication that the tank had been shot was a tiny fleck of powder that rubbed off the bullet as it entered. The inside of the tank however, was a giant hole with the ripped metal splayed out like when you shoot a soup can with a large caliber rifle. I definitely think that has great application potential for civilian vehicles, and relatively soon. I could see uses on radiators, pans and the differential, not to mention brake lines. The MR fluid probably has more potential than shocks as well, but that's the only think I can currently think of now.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Yes, I did see that segment on the self healing materials. Really awesome!

I have always said that science is man's attempt to explain God's creation. And mankind will never run out of new ways to use all the resources He gave us.

Godspeed,
Trent