• Chaojun YANG , Kaixuan WANG , Yafei GUO , Zhicheng ZHU
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 1-8.
    Objective

    For slotted disk magnetic couplers, the slotted conductor disk complicates the magnetic circuit during operation, increasing the difficulty of calculating electromagnetic torque. A reliable electromagnetic torque prediction model was established, and its torque characteristics were studied.

    Methods

    A 18-pole 16-slot disk magnetic coupler was studied. Firstly, via the equivalent magnetic circuit method, induced eddy currents from adjacent and self-magnetic circuits were introduced as a branch into a new model. Considering 3D end effects and combining Ampere's and Kirchhoff's laws, air gap flux and output torque expressions were derived. Secondly, the coupler was simulated and analyzed by the finite element simulation software, obtaining distributions of air gap magnetic field and eddy currents, and torque variations with air gap thickness and speed difference under adjacent eddy current influence. Finally, a test platform was established to verify theoretical and simulation results.

    Results

    The results show that the results of theoretical calculation, finite element simulation and test are basically consistent. The proposed theoretical model has high accuracy, providing a reliable prediction model for studying the torque performance of such couplers.

  • Xuanfeng SHANGGUAN , Xin WANG , Yu XIE , Qi WANG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 9-18.
    Objective

    Aiming at the problems of unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) and low structural strength of high-speed rotor in the operation of permanent magnet assisted magnetic gear, relevant research was conducted.

    Methods

    Firstly, the phase tuning method was used to study the influence of different transmission ratios on the UMP. Then, according to the structural characteristics for the high-speed permanent magnet rotor of the magnetic gear, the analytical solution of the rotor strength was obtained by using the equivalent mass ring method. Finally, taking reducing the maximum stress and ensuring a certain output torque as the optimization objectives, the multi-objective optimization was performed on the relevant parameters of the magnetic isolation bridge and magnetic barrier.

    Results

    The analysis results indicate that a transmission ratio where the maximum common divisor of the number of magnetic blocks and the number of poles of the low-speed rotor GCD=2 can effectively decrease UMP. The relative error between the analytical solution of the maximum stress obtained from the equivalent mass ring method and the result of finite element simulation is less than or equal to 1%, validating the accuracy of the analytical method. Through the optimized design, the maximum stress on the rotor is significantly reduced.

  • Jieying HU
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 19-26.
    Objective

    In order to improve the torque to volume ratio of magnetorheological (MR) brakes, a MR brake with internal and external fluid flow channels was developed.

    Methods

    Firstly, the structure and working principle of the MR brake with internal and external fluid flow channels were introduced, and the mathematical model of the braking torque was established based on Bingham constitutive model. Secondly, in order to obtain the optimal structure size of the MR brake, structural optimization design was carried out based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-Ⅱ). Finally, the prototype of MR brake was fabricated, the torque performance test system was built, and the braking performance test was conducted for the MR brake.

    Results

    There are both internal and external fluid flow channels in the MR brake. Six effective damping gaps are obtained by reasonable setting of magnetic conductive and magnetic isolating materials in the MR brake, so that it can produce excellent torque performance under the premise of the same size. The theoretical calculation results show that the braking torque and the adjustable range after optimization are increased by 30.23% and 16.58% respectively compared with those before optimization. Test results show that at the applied current of 2.0 A, the maximum braking torque is 44.28 N·m, and the dynamic adjustable range is 17.8. The relative errors of the braking torque and the dynamic adjustable range between the test values and the theoretical calculation values are 6.5% and 16.1% respectively, which verifies the rationality of the design.

  • Yi ZHU , Hui SONG , Qi CHEN , Liangjian WANG , De HUANG , Boyi FANG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 27-31.
    Objective

    To solve the problem of no direct mechanical or hydraulic connection between the brake actuator and the brake pedal in an electronic mechanical braking system, leading to no feedback of road feel, a brake pedal feeling simulator was proposed based on magnetorheological dampers.

    Methods

    Ansys/Maxwell and Matlab/Simulink were used as the platform. The structural design of the sinking brake pedal feeling simulator, the structural design of magnetorheological damper, magnetic circuit analysis and electromagnetic simulation were carried out respectively, and the simulation analysis of traditional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and fuzzy adaptive PID control under different working conditions of the whole system was compared.

    Results

    The simulation results show that the brake pedal feeling simulator can track the characteristic curve of the traditional pedal well under different working conditions and has wide applicability. Compared with the traditional PID control effect, the fuzzy adaptive PID control has higher control precision and smaller control error, and has good application prospects.

  • Yi ZHU , Hui SONG , Qi CHEN , Liangjian WANG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 32-39.
    Objective

    To solve the problem of no direct mechanical or hydraulic connection between the brake actuator and the brake pedal in an electronic mechanical braking system, leading to no feedback of road feel, a brake pedal feeling simulator was proposed based on magnetorheological dampers.

    Methods

    Ansys/Maxwell and Matlab/Simulink were used as the platform. The structural design of the sinking brake pedal feeling simulator, the structural design of magnetorheological damper, magnetic circuit analysis and electromagnetic simulation were carried out respectively, and the simulation analysis of traditional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and fuzzy adaptive PID control under different working conditions of the whole system was compared.

    Results

    The simulation results show that the brake pedal feeling simulator can track the characteristic curve of the traditional pedal well under different working conditions and has wide applicability. Compared with the traditional PID control effect, the fuzzy adaptive PID control has higher control precision and smaller control error, and has good application prospects.

  • Chaojun YANG , Zhicheng ZHU , Kaixuan WANG , Yafei GUO , Yiwen ZHANG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 40-49.
    Objective

    Alternating magnetic fields induce vibrations in mechanical components, thereby generating noise. Fluctuations in electromagnetic excitation forces and electromagnetic torque are the primary causes of electromagnetic vibration noise. To analyze the generation mechanisms and functional patterns of these fluctuations, an electromagnetic vibration noise analysis was conducted on a slotted disk-type asynchronous magnetic coupler with 9 pole pairs and 16 slots.

    Methods

    Firstly, theoretical formulas for air-gap magnetic flux density and electromagnetic excitation force were derived using the magnetic scalar potential permeance method and Maxwell stress tensor method. Combined with finite element simulation, the harmonic order amplitudes of the Fourier decomposition of air-gap magnetic flux density and electromagnetic excitation force were obtained. Secondly, based on the energy method, an expression for cogging torque was derived. Finite element simulation was employed to determine the cogging torque and electromagnetic torque fluctuations generated during the operation of the magnetic coupler. Thirdly, an electromagnetics-structural-acoustic multi-physics coupling model was established. Using the modal superposition method, vibration acceleration and displacement produced during stable operation of the magnetic coupler were obtained, and the characteristics of its electromagnetic noise were analyzed. Finally, a test platform for the magnetic coupler was constructed to measure electromagnetic noise during stable operation. Test results were compared with simulation outcomes to validate the theoretical analysis.

    Results

    The results indicate that low-order electromagnetic excitation forces are the main causes of vibrations in the magnetic coupler, and significant vibrations occur when the frequency of the electromagnetic excitation force approaches the natural frequency of the magnetic coupler. Comparison with simulation results shows that the test data obtained from the magnetic coupler test platform confirm the accuracy of the theoretical analysis.

  • Wenqiang ZHANG , Guangfu BIN , Guangping XU , Wenming YANG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 50-55.
    Objective

    To address the core problems of traditional magnetic tile-type magnetic wheels in the application of boiler wall-climbing robots, such as unclear magnetic field distribution, redundant safety factors of empirical formulas, low magnet utilization rate, and excessive weight, a magnetic tile arrangement scheme was identified with better magnetic attraction in the N-S alternating arrangement under the same volume and mass constraints. The differences in magnetic field distribution and magnetic attraction force magnitude when the magnetic wheel pressed against three versus two boiler water-cooled wall tubes were also clarified.

    Methods

    Taking a water-cooled wall inspection robot for thermal power plant boilers as an example, four magnetic wheel models with the same external dimensions but different magnet arrangement modes were established. Using Maxwell software, simulation analysis of the magnetic attraction force of these four magnetic wheels with different structures was conducted at a distance of 2 mm from the water-cooled wall tubes.

    Results

    The results show that the adsorption force of the magnetic wheel on the water-cooled wall tube is 5%-20% greater when adsorbed at the joint of the magnetic tiles than at the middle of the magnetic tiles. When adsorbed at the middle of the magnetic tiles, regardless of whether the magnetic wheel presses against three or two wall tubes, the magnetic wheel with the 4-magnetic-tile arrangement exhibits the maximum attraction. Additionally, the adsorption force when pressing against three water-cooled wall tubes is approximately 10%-20% greater than that when pressing against two tubes.

  • Kun DANG , Liang ZHEN
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 56-66.
    Objective

    To solve the problems of fixed damping force and poor pseudo-humanity of traditional lower limb prosthetic knee joints, a magnetorheological damper was designed to meet the vibration reduction requirements of the lower limb prosthetic knee joint.

    Methods

    Through theoretical calculation, the maximum damping forces required for the knee joint swing phase during flat walking and flat running were obtained, which were 179.6 N and 1 377 N respectively. In order to adapt to the motion state of the lower limb prosthesis, a vibration absorber was designed to meet the damping force required by the knee joint swing phase. Through numerical simulation and test research, the influence of external disturbed magnetic field and temperature rise effect on the dynamics characteristics of magnetorheological damper were analyzed. The test of influence of external disturbance magnetic field and temperature rise effect on the dynamics characteristic of the lower limb prosthetic knee joint was conducted by using the lower limb prosthetic knee joint simulator.

    Results

    The results show that the output damping force of the magnetorheological damper increases with the increasing magnetic flux density of the external disturbed magnetic field. Under the same conditions, the output damping force of the magnetorheological damper decreases with the rising temperature of the magnetorheological fluid. In the early stage of knee joint swing and the first half of its middle stage, with the increase of the magnetic flux density of external disturbed magnetic field, the hysteresis of knee joint movement increases, and the angle error increases. When the magnetic flux density of external disturbed magnetic field is 10, 20 and 30 mT respectively, the maximum bending angle of the lower limb prosthetic knee joint is 59.0°, 57.8° and 55.7° respectively, and the maximum angle error reaches 3.0°, 6.8° and 11.9° respectively. As the rise of the temperature of the magnetorheological fluid, the hysteresis of knee joint movement increases, and the angle error increases. When the temperature of the damper rises to 30, 35 and 40 ℃ respectively, the maximum bending angle of the lower limb prosthetic knee joint is 57.1°, 54.0° and 49.8° respectively, and the maximum angle error reaches 1.9°, 5.1° and 9.8° respectively. These conclusions provide a basis for the design and optimization of the lower limb prosthetic knee joint based on the magnetorheological damper.

  • Zuquan XIANG , Jinpeng SHUI , Liuyi CHEN , Weiqi WANG , Lifei SONG
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 67-76.
    Objective

    The risks of losing magnetism upon power-off and high energy consumption are suffered by traditional electromagnetic grippers. And the problem of lacking the active magnetic force regulation function is still faced by permanent magnegrippers. A lightweight magnetic pole rotation gripper with optimized methodology was developed.

    Methods

    Based on the magnetic flux continuity principle and magnetic field superposition effect, the optimal design strategy integrating theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and test verification was established through coordinated regulation of three key parameters: magnetic pole rotation angle, geometric dimensions, and air gap distance. The global optimal solution of the magnetic pole structural parameters was finally obtained.

    Results

    Both simulation and test results demonstrate that the optimized gripper achieves superior magnetic adhesion performance per unit mass compared to existing models. The proposed device exhibits distinctive advantages including compact structure, simplified control mechanism, and quasi-linear control characteristics, showing broad application potential in material handling operations.

  • Jiaqi YU , Dongning LIU , Feng SUN , Fang ZHAO , Chuan ZHAO , Haining ZHAO , Fangchao XU , Siqi LI
    Journal of Mechanical Transmission. 2026, 50(1): 77-86.
    Objective

    To accurately and efficiently analyze the magnetic and dynamic characteristics of multishaft double ring-plate magnetic gears (MDRMGs), improve the working conditions of CPMG arm bearings, and extend their service life, a multishaft double-ring magnetic gear transmission structure was designed by combining magnetic gears with mechanical ring-plate gears.

    Methods

    A magnetic field unit classification method was proposed, and then a mathematical model for air-gap magnetic field and static torque was established, which was efficient and took the end leakage magnetic effect into account. Meanwhile, based on the Riccati transfer matrix method, a dynamic model of the eccentric shaft rotor system of MDRMG was constructed.

    Results

    A comparison between the magnetic field unit classification method and the finite element method shows that the results of magnetic flux density and magnetic force obtained by the two methods are highly consistent, but the calculation time of the magnetic field unit classification method is shorter. The analysis also reveals that changes in the ring-plate spacing affect the classification calculation of magnetic field units and the lumped parameters in the dynamic model, the static magnetic torque of MDRMG increases with the increase of ring-plate spacing, while the critical speed of the eccentric shaft decreases as the ring-plate spacing increases. The magnetic field unit classification method can efficiently and accurately analyze the air-gap magnetic field and torque characteristics of MDRMG. In addition, the ring-plate spacing has a certain impact on the magnetic field and dynamic performance of MDRMGs.

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