Vibration damper technology based on Magnetorheological（MR）smart materials can open up a new way to realize adaptive control of vibration isolation for engineering structures.In this paper

a novel split-type MR isolation and damping support is designed and manufactured

and the shear performance of the isolator is experimentally studied.The novel MR isolation and damping support includes the MR plastic body working unit and the MR elastomer working unit

in which the MR plastic body provides the stiffness and damping under the small displacement condition and the MR elastomer provides the stiffness and damping under the large displacement condition.The results show that the shear stiffness of the novel MR isolation and damping support increases with the increase of working current intensity

and the relative change rate of the equivalent shear stiffness can exceed 50% when the current intensity is 2 Acompared with no working current condition.Without the current intensity

the base matrix and the ordinary filled rubber can still provide a certain damping force

and the vibration energy can be effectively absorbed.The performance of the MR support is equivalent to that of medium and high damping rubber supports.The vertical compressive stress improves the shear stiffness of the MR supports.The decrease of the loading frequency at the small displacement has the gain effect on the shear stiffness of the novel MR support.The proposed novel MR isolation and damping support can be applied to the complicated and varied vibration loading conditions

and the isolated structures with strict large displacement controls.