Enhancing magnetorheology with nonmagnetizable particles

Abstract

Experimental results illustrate an enhancement in the field-induced yield stress of magnetorheological (MR) fluids caused by the presence of nonmagnetizable particles. Particle-level simulations in three dimensions show similar behavior. However, the enhancement does not appear in simulations in which the spheres are confined to a monolayer. A mechanistic explanation of these observations is currently lacking. Nonetheless, the ability to enhance the MR response by replacing magnetizable particles with nonmagnetizable particles offers several advantages for applications.