Simulation of the Chain-formation Process in Magnetic Fields

Abstract

The chain formation process of ferromagnetic particles under an applied magnetic field is simulated. Three main forces - magnetic force, viscous force, and repelling force, are considered. A model to simulate the motion of particles is proposed based on the analysis of the dynamics of the particles, and a corresponding numerical approach is developed. The formation of particle chains in magnetorheological (MR) fluids under an applied magnetic field is simulated, and the result agrees well with the experimental observation. The developed method is significant for the analysis of the overall behavior of MR fluids and their microscopic mechanisms as well as the effects of the influencing factors, which may be helpful for the design of new MR fluids.