Modelling of a Magnetorheological Fluid Knee in a Prosthetic Leg

The purpose of the study is to theoretically model a prosthetic knee. A knee similar to magnetorheological fluid (MRF) brake is designed and the study focuses on modelling the MRF knee, predict the torque and compare it with the experimental data. The torque generated by the MRF knee is highly dependent on the gap size, angle, and the applied current. Here, the MRF knee features a non-circular rotor which results in a variable gap size for the MR fluid, between the stator and the rotor. Therefore, the gap size varies with the angle of the knee. When the current is applied and MR knee is subjected to a magnetic field, the yield stress produces the shear friction due to which the braking torque is generated. This derives the braking torque as a function of angle and applied current. A torque equation is derived from the theoretical data to yield the predicted results. In addition to the theoretical modelling and derived torque equations, the torque for the MRF fluid is also calculated experimentally. For the validation of the theoretical model and the derived torque equations, they were compared with the experimental results.