Magnetorheological Elastomer’s Material Modeling and Parameter Determination by Using the Energy-based Method

Functionalized materials provide tailored properties to design smart structures. For example, by adding polarized particles in a polymer, a composite material is generated, which couples deformation with electromagnetism. This magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) is a particle reinforced polymer matrix. Such a composite material deforms under an externally applied magnetic field so materials response is steered without contact. In order to achieve a simulation of an engineering design with MRE, we need an appropriate constitutive (material) equation modeling the deformation behavior accurately under different magnetic fields. We aim at determining the parameters in such a material equation out of experiments by using an inverse analysis. Although the material equation is nonlinear in deformation, its material parameters are mostly in such a way that we acquire a linear regression problem by using the energy-based method. Hence, the obtained parameters are unique and the method is fast allowing us to try out various material models.We present the method for determining the material parameters out of experimental data obtained by a standard rotational rheometer. The proposed material equation with its determined parameters can be used in a computation, for example by the finite element method.