Temperature and Electric Field Dependence of the Viscosity of Electrorheological (ER) Fluids: Warming up of an Electrorheological Clutch

Abstract

Cognition of the temperature-dependence of intelligent fluids, e.g. electrorheological (ER) and magnetorheological (MR) fluids, is critical for their application. In this paper, the dependence of the viscosity of ER fluids on temperature and electric field strength is examined. A new correlation equation is presented to describe the dependence of the viscosity on temperature by extending the Andrade equation. Considering the dependence of viscosity on the electric field strength and temperature, that equation is used to model the warming up of an ER clutch.