Adaptive energy-absorbing materials using field-responsive fluid-impregnated cellular solids

Adaptive materials with rapidly controllable and switchable energy-absorption and stiffness properties have a number of potential applications. We have developed, characterized and modeled a class of adaptive energy-absorbing systems consisting of nonlinear poroelastic composites wherein a field-responsive fluid, such as a magnetorheological fluid or a shear-thickening fluid, has been used to modulate the mechanical properties of a cellular solid. The mechanical properties and energy-absorbing capabilities of the composite are studied for variations in design parameters including imposed field strength, volume fraction of the field-responsive fluid within the composite and impact strain rates. The total energy absorbed by these materials can be modulated by a factor of 1- to 50-fold for small volume fractions of the fluid (∼15%) using moderate magnetic fields varying from 0 to 0.2 T. A scaling model is also proposed for the fluid–solid composite mechanical behavior that collapses experimental data onto a single master curve. The model allows optimization of the composite properties in tune with the application requirements. Potential application areas are discussed with emphasis on applicability in impact-absorbing headrests and cushioned assemblies for energy management.