Fast and accurate characterization of magnetorheological elastomers based on machine learning

Abstract

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are smart materials with a wide range of applications, particularly in reducing vibrations and noise. Traditional methods of testing their magnetically-induced properties, although thorough, are labor-intensive and time-consuming. In this work, we introduce an innovative method that harnesses machine learning to rapidly characterize MREs by using a smallest dataset, thus simplifying the characterization process. Initially, 12 types of MREs are prepared and tested on a shear rheometer with a controllable magnetic field. From these data, we strategically select five representative data points from each sample to form a training dataset. Using this dataset, we develop a support vector regression (SVR) model to characterize the magnetically-induced storage modulus of the MRE. The SVR model exhibits remarkable accuracy, with a correlation coefficient (<i>R</i>²) of 0.998 or higher, exceeding the precision of traditional models. The training time of this model is very brief, only 0.02 seconds, thus greatly accelerating the characterization speed of MRE. Moreover, the SVR model demonstrates strong generalization ability, maintaining a high correlation coefficient of 0.998 or greater even when silicone oil is added to the MREs or tested under various loading frequencies. In a word, the machine learning model not only accelerates the evaluation process but also provides a valuable reference for developing innovative MREs, marking a significant advancement in the field of smart materials research.