Dynamic mechanical properties of isotropic/anisotropic silicon magnetorheological elastomer composites

This study examines the principle of combining isotropic and anisotropic MREs in parallel and series configurations, to adjust the zero-field dynamic stiffness and damping capability of silicon MREs without compromising MR effect. The dynamic mechanical properties can be further tailored by adjusting the isotropic/anisotropic ratio. Damping of parallel configuration isotropic/anisotropic composites can be increased by combining MREs made with iron particles of small (4-6 μm) and large (<220 μm) diameter. In addition, we tested a novel anisotropic elastomer that combines two anisotropic MREs, with their particles aligned in different directions to achieve similar dynamic stiffness, damping and magnetorheological effect in those directions. The magnetorheological effect of the novel anisotropic/anisotropic composite MRE is 10% higher than that of pure anisotropic MRE. The axial, longitudinal and transverse dynamic mechanical properties, magnetorheological effect and the magnetic field-strain amplitude coupling effects were examined under a dynamic compressive strain where the amplitude was varied from 0.25% to 1.5%