Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Enhanced deformation of magnetizable fluids for efficiency increase of ferrofluid based locomotion systems

J. Popp¹ , I. Zeidis¹ , K. Zimmermann¹ , V. Böhm¹ , V. A. Naletova² , V. A. Turkov² , D. A. Pelevina² , A. V. Rozin²

¹ Department of Mechanics, Ilmenau University of Technology, Max-Planck-Ring 12, Ilmenau, Germany
² Institute of Mechanics, Moscow State University, 1 Michurinsky Pr., Moscow, Russia

Abstract
Locomotion systems made of compliant and magneto-sensitive materials are utilized in difficult accessible terrains and spaces. With a higher efficiency rate, the local deformation of the magnetizable fluids is enhanced by insertion of a field concentrator under exposure to inclined magnetic fields. The experimental analysis shows abrupt transitions of volume reorganization and hysteresis of behaviour of the fluid contour in increasing and decreasing magnetic fields. This confirms the theoretical predictions [1, 2]. Figs 6, Refs 8.