A quasi‐Bingham model for predicting electrorheological fluid behaviour

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present experimental research on the behaviour of a new electrorheological fluid (ETSERF).

Design/methodology/approach

The ETSERF is a suspension based on diatomite powders dispersed in silicon oil with a surfactant. A design of experiments is conducted to investigate the effects of electric field strength, particle concentration, surfactant percentage, particle size and shear rate on the efficiency of ETSERFs. The influence of the interactions on shear stresses is analyzed by varying all the combinations of the independent variables. The dielectric properties of the ETSERF are investigated in order to explain the interactions between these independent variables. Furthermore, a quantitative relationship between the dynamic shear stresses and the independent variables is developed.

Findings

The relationship provides a very useful explanation for the contributions of each independent variable to the viscosity and yield stress.

Originality/value

A new empirical model is proposed to explain the rheological behaviour of the ER fluids with a shear‐thinning behaviour.

Citation

Sun, Y., Thomas, M. and Masounave, J. (2010), "A quasi‐Bingham model for predicting electrorheological fluid behaviour", Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 141-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/15736101011055301