Research on shear stress of electrorheological fluid containing piezoelectric powders

Abstract

This paper describes experimental trials that were performed to increase the electrorheological (ER) effect in ER fluids (ERFs) by introducing piezoelectric particles (PEPs). Five sample solutions were made using different PEPs, ER powders, and liquids that included ERFs provided with different solutions and silicone oil. The shear stress of each sample was measured by shearing the sample between parallel plate electrodes. Samples containing the PEP showed the same shear stress under steady voltage inputs but showed somewhat higher shear stress under sinusoidal voltage inputs. This suggests that mixtures of the piezoelectric powders (at approximately 5 wt.%) and the ERF may shorten the response time of the ERF to DC inputs or increase the response frequency to AC inputs.