Modeling of magnetorheolological gels: a study on the particle size effect

Magneto-rheological Gels (MRGs) consist of magnetic particles embedded in the polymeric gel matrix. MRGs belong to a group of advanced multi-functional materials whose properties can be altered upon applying an external magnetic field. The mechanical response of MRGs arises from the contribution of magnetic particles and the polymer matrix. In contrast, the magnetic response arises from the interaction between the magnetic particles and the applied external field. A microstructure-based approach is adopted to develop a model to study the influence of the size of the magnetic particles on the magneto-mechanical behavior of the MRGs. The model is calibrated and validated using a set of experimental data. The results indicate an increasing trend in the modulus value as the particle size decreases under the same volume fraction and magnetic field conditions.