Relationship Between Viscosity and Fine Current of Electrorheological Suspension, Toward Prediction of the Inner Structure

Abstract

We analyzed a relationship between the viscosity and fine current of the ER suspension aiming for an estimation of the inner structure. This study aimed at an estimation of the inner structure formation via the fine current pass through the suspension. Viscosity and electrical current through electrodes were measured using similar apparatuses, and the relationship between the viscosity and fine current was investigated. The ER suspension was prepared by adding silica particles of 0.5 μm diameter to silicone oil of 0.291 Pa˙s viscosity. The solid volume fraction was 0.20. The voltage was varied from 0 to 1.5 kV/mm. The viscosity of the ER suspension was measured by a falling time in a rectangular tube. As a result, the fine current was found to correlate with the viscosity of the ER suspension. It indicated the possibility that the inner structure of the ER suspension can be estimated using the fine current through the ER suspension. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.