Field dependent magneto-viscoelasticity in particle reinforced elastomer

Abstract

Magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) are intelligent polymers that contain magneto-active particles in an elastomeric polymer matrix. The introduction of active particles influences MREs’ stiffness and rheological behavior under magneto-mechanical loading. The present study aims to construct a micro-mechanics-based constitutive model for MREs that accounts for the active particle volume fraction. The theory is extended in the finite deformation, and a multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient into elastic and viscous components is adopted, yielding a transitional configuration on which the magnetic field vectors may be transported. The current study explores micro-mechanics perspective of material behavior in finite deformation. The magnetic field vectors are implicitly revealed to have equilibrium and non-equilibrium components. This indicates that both mechanical viscoelastic effects and the material’s resistance to magnetization significantly contribute to mechanical dissipation. The second law of thermodynamics is used to develop a constitutive relation for finite deformation in magneto-viscoelastic material. The proposed material model is validated with the experimental data using the least possible material parameters.