RAHMAN / J Zhejiang Univ-Sci A (Appl Phys & Eng) in press 1 A review of advances in magneto rheological dampers: their design optimization and applications * Mahmudur RAHMAN 1 , Zhi Chao ONG †1 , Sabariah JULAI 1 , Md Meftahul FERDAUS 2 , Raju AHAMED 2 ( 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA) ( 2 Department of of Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Ma- laysia) † E-mail: alexongzc@um.edu.my; zhichao83@gmail.com Received Nov. 14, 2016; Revision accepted Apr. 6, 2017; Crosschecked Abstract: In recent years, Magnetorheological (MR) Fluid technology has received much attention and consequently has shown much improvement. Its adaptable nature has led to rapid growth in such varied engineering applications as the base isolation of civil structures, vehicle suspensions and several bio-engineering mechanisms through its implementation in different MR fluid base devices, particularly in MR Dampers. The MR damper is an advanced application of a semi-active device which performs effectively in vibration reduction due to its control ability in both on and off states. The MR damper has the capacity to generate a large damping force, with comparatively low power consumption, fast and flexible response, and simplicity of design. With reference to the huge demand for MR dampers, this paper reviews the advantages of these semi-active systems over passive and active systems; the versatile application of MR dampers; the fabrication of the configurations of various MR dampers; and pro- vides an overview of various MR damper models. To address the increasing adaptability of the MR damper, its latest design optimization and advances are also presented. Because of the tremendous interest in self-powered and energy-saving technologies, a broad overview of the design of MR dampers for energy harvesting and their modeling is also incorporated in this paper. Key words: Magnetorheological fluid dampers; vibration control; self-powered review; energy saving; optimization and ad- vancement doi:10.1631/jzus.A1600721 Document code: A CLC number: 1 Introduction A vibration control system reduces unwanted vibration of civil structures or of vehicle bodies from road shocks, vibrations and earthquakes which would otherwise be shifted to passengers, load or inhabitants of the buildings. Thus a vibration control system increases passenger safety and provides ride comfort. Different types of devices are used as vibration insulators and among them the damper is prominent., Usually the selection between three types of dampers - passive, active and semi-active – is implemented according to need. Most dampers used today are passive in nature, though such dampers have many limitations. A passive damper only dissipates energy from the system. In a passive suspension system, the characteristics of the dampers are and determined by designers considering design goals and the envisioned application. An active suspension, on the other hand, consists of sensors, controllers, and active actuators controlled by feedback signals, springs etc. The force actuator of an active suspension system has the ability to add energy to, or dissipate energy from, the system. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering) ISSN 1673-565X (Print); ISSN 1862-1775 (Online) www.zju.edu.cn/jzus; www.springerlink.com E-mail: jzus@zju.edu.cn ‡ Corresponding author * Project supported by University of Malaya Research Grant (RP013B-15SUS), Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FP010-2014A), Postgraduate Research Fund (PG098-2015A), and the Advanced Shock and Vibration Research (ASVR) Group of the University of Malaya and other project collaborators. ORCID: Zhi Chao ONG, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1686-3551 © Zhejiang University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017 unedited