Numerical simulation calculations to verify the shear thickening part of the feasibility of liquid as an energy-absorbing material

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to verify the partial feasibility of shear thickening fluid (STF) as a new energy-absorbing material by combining numerical simulation and laboratory experiments. Shear thickener is a unique non-Newtonian fluid, and its viscosity increases significantly with the increase of shear rate when subjected to external force, which makes it potentially valuable in the field of impact protection. To further explore the energy absorption characteristics of STF, nano-silica and polyethylene glycol (PEG200) were used as raw materials to prepare STF, and its rheological properties and dynamic response under external force were systematically studied. Using advanced fluid dynamics software, a “ball impact” physical model was built for numerical simulation to analyze the displacement and kinetic energy of the ball during its impact on various shear-thickening fluids (STFs). In the laboratory test, dynamic and steady-state rheological tests were carried out on a variety of STFs, and the changes of viscosity, loss modulus, and storage modulus with shear rate were tested. The results indicated that in contrast to the impact on water, the kinetic energy of the ball was remarkably reduced and the maximum displacement was diminished during the impact of STF, indicating that the STF can effectively disperse and absorb the impact energy when subjected to high-speed impact. The SiO 2 /PEG200-STF system has significant shear thickening and shear thinning behavior, and when the mass fraction of SiO 2 is 40%, the performance of the STF system is the best.