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dc.contributor.advisorNeville Hogan.en_US
dc.contributor.authorGriffin, Ryan Aen_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-08-03T18:24:23Z
dc.date.available2007-08-03T18:24:23Z
dc.date.copyright2006en_US
dc.date.issued2006en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38272
dc.descriptionThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 187-189).en_US
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this thesis was to further characterize the effectiveness of field responsive fluids (FRFs) in geometries pertinent to the soldier and to examine the effects of specific geometric and kinematic parameters, including patterned surface geometry, electrode gap distance, and normal force on the performance of homogeneous ERF composites. Field responsive fluid composites designed for variable impedance energy absorption incorporated electrorheological fluid (ERF) and shear-thickening fluid (STF) in novel geometries to absorb compressive and tensile/shear forces. ER and ST fluids change their apparent viscosity in the presence of elevated electric and shear fields, respectively, and the magnitude of this effect can be adjusted using the magnitude of the input field, allowing variable impedance operation. Several test fixtures were developed to test these novel FRF composites. A compression apparatus was designed and constructed to test STF-filled foam over a range of strain rates not previously examined in the literature. Silicon-based microchannel devices with etched features on the order of 100 pm and etch depths of 7-90 pm were fabricated to test homogeneous ER fluids in small electrode gaps.en_US
dc.description.abstract(cont.) Tests using these silicon devices allowed creation of 5 kV/mm (5 V/pm) electric fields across electrode gaps as small as 20 pm, with increases of measured shear force as high as 350% from no electric field to full 5 kV/mm operation. Production of these devices in bulk using established silicon processing techniques was demonstrated, and factors affecting the manufacture of these devices were investigated.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Ryan A. Griffin.en_US
dc.format.extent189 leavesen_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
dc.subjectMechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.titleVariable impedance energy dissipation on the micro-scale : field responsive fluids in novel geometriesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.M.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
dc.identifier.oclc151224501en_US


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