Multiscale numerical modeling of magneto-hyperelasticity of magnetorheological elastomeric composites

Mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are essential for their engineering applications. While the magneto-elastic responses of MREs under large deformation are obtained with experimental methods, microstructure-based modeling and simulation can indicate the physical mechanisms that further provide guidelines for engineering design. We herein propose a computational micromechanics-based multiphysics coupling model to reveal the overall magneto-hyperelastic properties of MREs. Interactions among ferromagnetic particles in MREs are defined in terms of magnetic body forces. The coupled magnetic and mechanical fields are solved in the three-dimensional representative volume elements with chained microstructures under large deformation. The macroscopic stresses are obtained by the computational homogenization procedures with consideration of the microscopically coupled fields of stresses and magnetic body forces. Effects of demagnetizing field and microstructures on the overall magnetic stresses are particularly emphasized. The mechanical properties obtained from several groups of experiments are quantitatively predicted and interpreted which further verifies the applicability and correctness of the proposed method.