Taylor-Couette flow of electrorheological fluids under electrical double layer phenomenon

We theoretically investigate the electrical double layer-driven alteration in the dynamics of Taylor-Couette flows in which the annular space between the two concentric cylinders is occupied by an electrorheological fluid. The physical phenomenon under consideration is perceived as a competing effect of the hydrodynamic shear and the spatially varying electrorheological effects as a consequence of the electrical field within the electrical double layer. Such considerations are further shown to dramatically alter the extent of existence of a shear free region within the annular space. We arrive at a mathematical model of the above phenomenon in order to predict the stress transfer mechanism. The consequent possibility of a relative augmentation in the torque transfer capacity as compared to that in Newtonian fluids finds emerging applications in several practical scenarios, such as in clutches and bearings. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.