Smart magnetorheological elastomer peristaltic pump

Abstract

A smart magnetorheological elastomer peristaltic pump (MRE-PP) realizes controlled movements to convey Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids under various scheduling policies for electromagnets. Although the structure of the basic element consisted of a magnetorheological elastomer tube and an electromagnet is very succinct, the capability of fluid conveying is dramatically improved when the magnetorheological elastomer peristaltic pump composed of more elements in series is employed. Besides, scheduling policies and the length of the magnetorheological elastomer tube, as another two significant factors, also have remarkable effects on backflow, pumped fluid volume, and viscosity of blood. Various scheduling policies are designed to realize fluid conveying with relatively high pumped volume for non-Newtonian fluid. Meanwhile, low destructiveness is demonstrated in the designed magnetorheological elastomer peristaltic pumps, allowing a potential application of conveying stress sensitive fluids.

A Review of Magnetic Elastomers and Their Role in Soft Robotics

“…This work demonstrated that sMEs could be used in valving systems for air, as well as for liquid valving. More recently, others sought to produce a peristaltic pump, utilizing the action of multiple electromagnets compressing a tube of MRE to squeeze fluid forward (Wu et al, 2019 ). The same researchers also provided a numerical analysis and framework of the performance of their designed device, attempting to model and optimize its performance (Wu et al, 2020 ).…”

Magnetorheological elastomer peristaltic pump capable of flow and viscosity control

“…In the numerical study, the magneto-fluid–solid interaction (MFSI) should be elucidated first. The magnetization curve (Wu et al, 2017; 2019a; 2019b) and Mooney–Rivlin model (Sun et al, 2014; Yang et al, 2017; Yu and Zhao, 2009) are utilized to represent magnetic-induced body force, and the equilibrium and constitutive equations of a mass point in MRE domain are written as follows…”

“…Finite element mesh of the MRE-PP is depicted in Figure 1(c). The magnetic properties of the MRE tubes are the same with our previous study (Wu et al, 2019a), which is imported in COMSOL using interpolation function, as illustrated in Figure 1(d). Joint parts of neighboring MRE tubes are fixed by clamps with 2-mm width, and two ends of MRE-PPs are fastened.…”

“…The precise net pumped volume is also not obtained easily, although it is necessary in many engineering fields (Barnoon and Toghraie, 2018; Kutev et al, 2015; Ma et al, 2017; Oka et al, 2005; Taitel and Dukler, 1976; Tao et al, 2016; Vasilyeva, 2017). In the previous study, we presented a 2D smart MRE-PP to convey water and blood bidirectionally (Wu et al, 2019a) and a three-dimensional (3D) MRE-PP with an analogic moisture loss process (Wu et al, 2019b). The MRE-PP has a great potential to convey fluids precisely while controlling fluid viscosity.…”

“…(a) Sketch of the basic element of MRE-PPs; (b) sketch of MRE-PP composed of two basic elements in series; (c) finite element mesh of the MRE-PP; and (d) magnetic properties of the MRE tubes identical with our previous study(Wu et al, 2019a).…”