Coupled multi-physics field simulation research of magneto-rheological elastomeric magneto-shear mechanical properties based on COMSOL

Magnetorheological Elastomers (MREs) are a new type of intelligent magnetically controlled material consisting of a polymer matrix and magnetic particles. The modulus of elasticity of MREs varies with the external magnetic field strength due to the electromagnetic stress between the internal magnetic particle. However, the weak magnet-oenological effect of MREs limits their development. In order to improve the performance of the MREs, a two-dimensional model of MREs is developed based on the equivalent volume cell method, and the force-magnetic coupling analysis is carried out with COMSOL. In this paper, the effects of volume fraction, particle distribution, and magnetic field strength on the magnetostatic shear mechanical properties of MREs were investigated. The results show that: the stress distribution inside of MREs is mainly concentrated on the particles and the contact position between the particles and air. Increasing the magnetic field and the magnetic particle content can effectively improve the magneto-mechanical properties of MREs. Increasing the magnetic field from 0.5T to 1.7T, the magnetic shear modulus was increased by 8.81%. Increasing the particle volume fraction from 15% to 60%, the magnetic shear modulus was increased by 313.64%. Decreasing the particle distance in the chain contribute to the magneto-mechanical properties enhancement.