Objective <p>The damping coefficient per unit volume (energy dissipation density) of traditional eddy current damper&#xa0;is relatively low. To improve the damping coefficient, an eddy current damper with inserted magnetic iron rods (ECDMIR)&#xa0;was constructed for the first time.</p> Methods <p>Through simulation and experimental studies, the influence of the presence or absence of magnetic iron&#xa0;rods on <i>c</i> (damping coefficient) was investigated, the optimal structural parameters of ECD-MIR were explored.</p> Results <p><i>c</i> initially increases and then decreases with the increase of <i>k</i> (the ratio of the height <i>h</i>₁ of the horizontally magnetized magnet to the total height <i>h</i>₁ + <i>h</i>₂ of the horizontally and vertically magnetized magnets in the permanent magnet array) and reaches its maximum when <i>k</i> approaches 0.5. <i>c</i> is linearly negatively correlated with <i>w</i> (the air gap width between the conductor tube and the permanent magnet array), positively correlated with <i>t</i> (the wall thickness of the conductor tube), negatively correlated with <i>D</i> (the distance between parallel magnetic iron rods and the inner wall of the square conductor tube), and positively correlated with <i>r</i> (the radius of the magnetic iron rods). Based on the simulation results, the structural parameters of ECD-MIR were optimized. After optimization, the damping coefficient of ECD-MIR The damping coefficient of ECD-MIR can reach 748.3 N·s·m⁻¹, and the energy dissipation density reaches 1374.1 kN·s·m⁻⁴, which is approximately 46.8% higher than that of the eddy current damper without magnetic iron rods.</p> Conclusion <p>The outcomes of this research can provide a basis for optimizing the structural parameters and&#xa0;improving the performance of eddy current damper.</p>