FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTIONS IN ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS

The Laplace equation for an infinite chain of dielectric particles in an electrorheological fluid is solved with the finite-element analysis (FEA) method. The FEA results reveal that the dipole model gives a good approximation in calculating energy, even if neighbor particles are very close and the mismatch is moderate. However, the dipole model underestimates the pair attractive force when the particles are in or near contact. On the other hand, the conductor model is a good approximation when the two particles are near contact and the mismatch is very big. Otherwise, the conductor model overestimates the pair attractive force. A formula to calculate the neighbor-pair attractive force for the whole range is proposed. The FEA results agree with this formula reasonably well.