Magnetic control of metafluids for fluid-like applications of metamaterials

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how time-varying magnetic fields can control metafluids composed of magnetic multistable capsules, enabling fluid-like behavior in metamaterials for applications like heat engines and cooling systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel magnetic control mechanism for metafluids, combining theoretical modeling and experimental validation to manipulate fluid-like properties of metamaterials.

Findings

Magnetic fields effectively control capsule compression and flow.

Theoretical predictions align well with experimental results.

Metafluids exhibit tunable fluid-like behavior under magnetic actuation.

Abstract

Metamaterials are structures composed of repeating unit-cells which enable macro-scale properties not found in nature. Since metamaterials are typically solid structures with predetermined interconnections, it is challenging to leverage their unique properties for many critical applications that require fluid-like behavior, such as heat engines or cooling cycles. Recent research suggested overcoming this limitation by creating a mechanical metafluid', which is a lubricated suspension of multistable unit-cells. However, realization of this concept necessitates the ability to control both velocity and state of the metafluid. Here, we propose the use of time-varying magnetic fields as a mechanism to manipulate metafluids. We focus on a lattice of magnetic multistable capsules enclosing gas and suspended within a liquid-filled tube. We derive the governing equations and examine one-dimensional fluid mechanics of the metafluid, both theoretically and experimentally, at the viscous limit under magnetic actuation. By applying time-varying magnetic fields, we control both the local compression and expansion of the capsules, as well as the entire flow field. Our theoretical results are compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. This work paves the way for the utilization of mechanical metamaterials to applications that require fluid-like behavior, thus extending the scope of metamaterial applications.