First-Principles Approach to Dynamic ER Effects in Complex Fluids (Completed)

First-principles methods are developed to investigate the dynamic
electrorheological (ER) effects in which the suspending particles can have
translational or rotational motions. A model based on the relaxation of
polarization charge on the particle surfaces is proposed and solved for
various experimental conditions. The approach is also applied to the
evaluation of the hydrodynamic interactions between the unsteady fluid
flow and the suspending particles. The methods will be extended to study
the ER effects of coated particles, crystalline particles, and to
magnetorheological effects of paramagnetic particles. 
Moreover, the nonlinear ER effects under a strong applied field will be 
studied by the same approach. The results may help in the preparation of 
materials for a variety of potential applications.