A CONDUCTION MODEL OF THE ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL EFFECT

Abstract

A conduction model is proposed to explain the electrorheological effect under D.C. or low frequency A.C. fields. An approximate analysis taking into account the bulk conduction of the solid and the nonlinear conduction properties of the liquid is confirmed by experiments on large scale spheres. A good agreement between measurements and predictions is also obtained when air replaces the liquid. Finally the predictions are extended to the case of surface conduction of the solid spheres.