Physically-based anisotropic constitutive models for magneto-sensitive and electro-active polymers (RDF17/MCE/HOSSAIN)

Magneto-active polymers (MAPs) are smart materials in which the mechanical and the magnetic properties are coupled with each other. MAPs can be used as variable stiffness actuators and dampers, which have several potential engineering applications. These smart materials have received considerable attention in automotive and in electronics industries in recent times. Typically, these elastomers are composed of a rubber matrix filled with magnetisable iron particles. The magnetisable particles are usually between 1 and 5 micrometres in diameter and kept between 0 and 30% by volume of the entire mixture. The application of an external magnetic field causes the magnetisation of iron particles and the resulting particle-particle and particle-matrix interactions lead to phenomena such as magnetostriction and a change in the overall material stiffness.

Iron-filled magnetorheological polymers, when cured in the presence of a magnetic field, result in having a transversely isotropic structure with iron particles forming chains along the direction of applied magnetic induction. It has been observed through electron micrographs and X-ray tomography that the iron particles arrange themselves into chain-like structures that lend an overall anisotropy to the material. These chains are not always perfect in structure, and may have dispersion due to the conditions present during manufacturing or some undesirable material properties.

In this PhD, we will develop physically-based micro-mechanically-motivated constitutive models that will incorporate the response of magneto-active materials to couple magneto-mechanical loading using a probability based structure tensor. This will be an extension of our previous works (Saxena, Hossain, Steinmann; Mehnert, Hossain, Steinmann) that only take into account the phenomenological-approach and transverse isotropy.

Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required (evidence required by 1 August 2017).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2017
Start Date: 2 October 2017

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