A NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS IN OSCILLATORY COMPRESSIVE SQUEEZE-FLOW

This paper is concerned with the theoretical analysis of the compressi ve squeeze performance of an electrorheological (ER) fluid sandwiched between two parallel circular electrodes, the upper one fixed and the lower one oscillating sinusoidally normal to its own plane. It is show n how the force transmitted through the fluid on the upper electrode v aries with amplitude and frequency of oscillation together with applie d potential difference and also how the fluid, modelled by a bi-viscou s characteristic, responds when electrically stressed compared with it s unstressed, Newtonian counterpart. Finally, the relevance of the the oretical results to the determination of the mechanical properties of an ER fluid in squeeze is discussed.