Membrane Formation Process in Magnetic Fluid and Application for Aperture Control

摘要

Basic characteristics of the membrane formation process were investigated experimentally and numerically. In the experiment the aperture area of magnetic fluid membrane was recorded for a given volume of magnetic fluid sustained by applying a magnetic field in a pipe section. In the numerical analysis the formation process of the magnetic fluid membrane was examined under various magnetic field intensities. The theoretical background of the numerical work is based on the static force balance between gravity, magnetic force density, and surface tension on the membrane at the solid contact point. The surface profile was estimated at an equilibrium stage by numerical analysis and compared to experimental results, where the membrane (sustained by magnetic fluid in a pipe) formed the aperture configuration. In the results of the present investigation, from both experimental and numerical work, the detailed formation process was verified, and it was shown that the aperture area can be controlled by applying a magnetic field. .