Stress Rectification in MR Fluids under Tilted Magnetic Field

Abstract

We have studied the shear stress and cluster structure of MR suspensions under tilted magnetic field by experiments, numerical simulations and a simple theory. The shear stress depends on the field direction asymmetrically, and shows a "rectification" effect; the fluids are easier to flow in one direction than in the reverse direction. Dispersed particles form stable chain-like clusters even under the tilted field condition, whose direction has some misalignment with the field direction due to the force exerted by the shear flow.