Dynamic elastic properties of magneto-rheological slurries

We study the propagation of elastic perturbations in magneto-rheological slurries of iron particles dispersed in glycerine. The complexity of these systems is revealed in the fibrillar structure acquired under the application of a magnetic field. Recently, it has been reported the observation of two different low frequency modes of propagation. One of these modes has been associated to the propagation of the perturbation through the fluid medium. The other one has been qualitatively explained as the propagation of the elastic perturbation through the suspended particles. This second mode appears when a magnetic field is applied to the slurry. The propagation speed for both modes depends on the field intensity and on the properties of the magnetic particles. Theoretically, we analyze these modes and calculate the sound velocity. We obtain a quantitative good agreement with the experimental results.