Ferrogels are compliant composite materials formed of a soft polymer matrix with a filler of magnetic powder. The interaction of the magnetic filler with an applied magnetic field causes the deformation of the ferrogel. Strains of up to 40% have been measured with load capabilities of up to four times the sample's weight. As these materials move toward application it is important to capture the actuator behavior in mathematical models so that materials can be designed and the behavior predicted. In this work experimental testing captures the strain and strain rate behavior of these materials at fields up to 0.5 T. A lumped parameter model is then developed that is much less computationally intensive than existing modeling approaches. The ability of this model to capture the behavior of interest will be assessed.

Date Published: 31 March 2009
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 7289, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Composites 2009, 72891T (31 March 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.816040

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7289:
Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Composites 2009
Zoubeida Ounaies; Jiangyu Li, Editor(s)