Variable impedance energy dissipation on the micro-scale : field responsive fluids in novel geometries

The aim of this thesis was to further characterize the effectiveness of field responsive fluids (FRFs) in geometries pertinent to the soldier and to examine the effects of specific geometric and kinematic parameters, including patterned surface geometry, electrode gap distance, and normal force on the performance of homogeneous ERF composites. Field responsive fluid composites designed for variable impedance energy absorption incorporated electrorheological fluid (ERF) and shear-thickening fluid (STF) in novel geometries to absorb compressive and tensile/shear forces. ER and ST fluids change their apparent viscosity in the presence of elevated electric and shear fields, respectively, and the magnitude of this effect can be adjusted using the magnitude of the input field, allowing variable impedance operation. Several test fixtures were developed to test these novel FRF composites. A compression apparatus was designed and constructed to test STF-filled foam over a range of strain rates not previously examined in the literature. Silicon-based microchannel devices with etched features on the order of 100 pm and etch depths of 7-90 pm were fabricated to test homogeneous ER fluids in small electrode gaps.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Griffin, Ryan A

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Neville Hogan.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38272

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/38272