Abstract: Better control over the shock resistance of shipboard units underlines the importance of application of the magnetorheological(MR) damper,a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the implication of the dynamic characteristics is substantially important.This paper aims to examine the dynamic characteristics of MR damper through an experimental study.In the study,a variety of factors affecting the damping force of MR damper,including velocity,amplitude,frequency and controlling current,were discussed.The experimental results demonstrate that the uncontrollable viscous damping force of MR damper constitutes the major component of the to tal damping forces and varies distinctly with velocities at low velocity zone.At high velocity zone,however Coulomb damping force is the major contribution by magnetorheological fluid,where it vary indistinctly with velocities depending on the control current,but saturation will occur with the increment of current.The amplitude and frequency mainly affect viscous damping force,and the variation range will increase distinctly with the increment of frequency and amplitude,but they do not affect the damping force distinctly when at the same velocity.