Micromechanics of magneto- and electro-active soft composites

Abstract eng:
In this work, we analyze the nonlinear coupled behavior of magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) composites undergoing finite deformations in the presence of a magnetic field. The responses of MAEs with periodically distributed active particles embedded in a soft matrix are determined numerically. These numerical results together with analytical estimates for random distributions of particles illustrate the strong sensitivity of the magnetomechanical coupling to changes in microstructures. Based on an exact solution for magneto-active laminates, we propose a model for anisotropic MAEs with chain-like structures induced during the curing process in a magnetic field. Next, stability of the anisotropic MAEs is analyzed, and explicit expressions for critical magnetic field are derived in terms of constituents’ volume fractions and material properties. Finally, a new distinct mode of instabilities is found for the composites with high concentrations of the active phase. Thanks to the mathematical analogy, the findings also apply to dielectric elastomer composites.

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