Experimental study of longitudinal, transverse and volume strains of magnetoactive elastomeric cylinders in uniform magnetic fields

Magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) are promising materials for realization of magnetic field-controlled soft actuators. Herein, a systematic investigation of magnetic field-induced macroscopic deformations of soft MAE cylinders with a diameter of 15 mm in uniform quasi-static magnetic fields directed parallel to the cylinder's axis is reported. The measurements were based on image processing. Thirty-six MAE samples differing in the weight fraction of the iron filler (70 wt%, 75 wt% and 80 wt%), alignment of filling particles, and the aspect ratio (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2) were fabricated. MAE cylinders exhibited high relative change in height (up to 35% in the field of 485 kA/m) and lateral contraction. The dependence of the maximum extensional strain on the aspect ratio was obtained and compared with theoretical considerations. A concave dent was formed on the free circular base in magnetic fields. This concavity was characterized experimentally. A significant volumetric strain of the order of magnitude of 10% was calculated in MAEs for the first time. In consequently repeated magnetization cycles, the remanent extensional strain significantly increased after each cycle. The results are qualitatively discussed in the framework of the modern views on the magnetically induced macroscopic deformations of MAEs. The directions of further research are outlined.