Experimental characterization and microscale modeling of isotropic and anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers

Abstract

In this research, a systematic study is conducted on the sample preparation, characterization and microscale modeling of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) with isotropic and anisotropic particle distributions. Different MRE specimens with silicone rubber as the matrix material and varying content of carbonyl iron particles as magnetizable fillers are fabricated. The quasi-static properties of the samples are characterized experimentally using an advanced rheometer equipped with a magnetorheological device. The elastic response of the MREs at zero magnetic field is first investigated theoretically and experimentally. A microscale modeling approach is then used for predicting the response of the MREs under an external magnetic flux density. The approach is based on the idealized distribution of particles inside the matrix according to the regular lattice models or chain-like structure for isotropic and anisotropic dispersions, respectively. Several lattice types are proposed, and performance of each lattice is compared with their counterparts. Detailed explanation is provided on the behavior of the proposed lattices and changes in the properties of the MREs are described from the microstructure point of view. The results for different lattice models are then compared with the experimental measurements for both isotropic and anisotropic MRE samples.