An experimental evaluation of pre-yield and post-yield rheological models of magnetic field dependent smart materials

The rheological behavior of field-dependent smart fluids in both the pre-yield and post-yield regimes is investigated. Typical viscoelastic and viscoplastic models are employed to model the fluids behavior. Viscoelastic models are used widely in the pre-yield regime. Viscoplastic models are also used extensively in both the pre-yield and post-yield regimes. Two smart fluids including a ferromagnetic nanoparticle fluid and an MR fluid are examined here. Using an MCR300 rheometer, the rheological properties of the fluids in both oscillation and rotational mode are measured. In the oscillation mode, the storage and loss moduli versus frequency are measured. In the rotational mode, shear stress, shear rate, viscosity and torque are measured. In the frequency domain, the pre-yield behavior of the ferromagnetic nano-particle fluid is modeled by Kelvin-Voigt solid model. Also, the three-parameter fluid model is used to model the pre-yield behavior of the MR fluid. Two viscoplastic models including Bingham-plastic and Herschel-Bulkley models are selected to model the rheological behavior of fluids in the time domain. Which model is more appropriate depends on the external magnetic field and the shear rate. Both models are used here to model the fluids’ behavior. The models properly predict the results observed in the experiments.