The rheology of shear thickening fluid (STF) and the dynamic performance of an STF-filled damper

This paper presents a study of the rheological properties of shear thickening fluid (STF) and its application as a damper. The STF samples, with different weight fractions, were prepared by dispersing nanosized silica particles in a solvent. By using a parallel-plate rheometer, both steady-state and dynamic experiments were carried out to investigate the rheological properties of STFs. Experimental results indicated that these suspensions show an abrupt increase in complex viscosity beyond a critical dynamic shear rate, as well as this increase being reversible. Working with the fabricated STF materials, a prototype damper was fabricated and its dynamic performances were experimentally evaluated. An equivalent linear model through effective elastic stiffness and viscous damping was developed to address both the damping and the stiffness capabilities of the damper. Also, a mathematical model was developed to investigate working mechanisms of STF-based devices.