Bingham and Response Characteristics of ER Fluids in Shear and Flow Modes

This paper presents field-dependent Bingham and response characteristics of ER fluid under shear and flow modes. Two different types of electroviscometers are designed and manufactured for the shear mode and flow mode, respectively. An ER fluid consisting of soluble chemical starches (particles) and silicon oil is made and its field-dependent yield stress is experimentally distilled at two different temperatures using the electroviscometers. Time responses of the ER fluid to step electric fields are also evaluated under two operating modes. In addition, a cylindrical ER damper, which is operated under the flow mode, is adopted and its measured damping force is compared with predicted one obtained from Bingham model of the shear and flow mode, respectively.