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In the present study, we elucidate the behaviour of a suspension composed of magnetic disk-like particles that flow in a Hagen-Poiseuille flow in a gradient magnetic field and the trapping characteristics of the magnetic particles. To this end, we utilise multiple pairs of magnetic poles located outside the cylindrical system. Brownian dynamics simulations were performed in order to clarify the dependence of these characteristics on a variety of factors. It is seen that an increase in the magnetic field strength improves the trapping characteristics of disk-like particles if the influence of an applied magnetic field is sufficiently more dominant than that of a flow field and that of the magnetic particle-particle interaction. In the case of a strong magnetic particle-particle interaction, thin chain-like clusters are formed from an anchored particle trapped around a magnetic pole. If the two poles are sufficiently close to each other, an arch-type cluster is formed between them. We expect that this arch-type cluster may give rise to good trapping performance even in the presence of a strong flow field if the formation arises at a sufficiently large separation distance between the pair of magnetic poles. Highlights We have performed Brownian dynamics simulations for a magnetic disk-like particle suspension in a Hagen-Poiseuille flow. If the magnetic particle-particle interaction is sufficiently more dominant than the flow field, thin chain-like clusters are formed from an anchored particle. As the pole separation distance decreases, an arch-type configuration tends to be formed along the surface of the wall. This arch-type cluster that is formed between the pair of magnetic poles may be expected to improve the trapping characteristics depending on the pole separation distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated a suspension composed of spherical magnetic Janus particles in thermodynamic equilibrium. The magnetic moment of Janus particles treated here is located at a position shifted from the particle centre, which is on the line perpendicular to the magnetic moment direction. We conducted quasi-2D Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the change in the regime of aggregate structures and the dependence of the regime on various factors, such as the strength of the magnetic particle-particle interaction, magnetic particle-field interaction, and the distance of the magnetic moment from the particle centre. In the absence of an applied magnetic field, the Janus particles aggregate to form stable clusters composed of a few particles with increased values of the magnetic particle-particle interaction strength. As the strength of the magnetic field is increased, these clusters collapse, and chain-like clusters are formed aligned in the direction of the magnetic field. The appearance of this regime change requires a stronger magnetic field as the position of the magnetic moment approaches the particle surface. This can be attributed to the fact that the magnetic interaction between neighbouring particles becomes more dominant as the magnetic moments of the constituent particles in the cluster units approach each other. Highlights We have addressed the aggregation phenomena in a suspension composed of spherical magnetic Janus particles. We have investigated the regime change in the aggregate structures of the Janus particles under various conditions. In a strong magnetic field, thick chain-like clusters are formed as the magnetic moment is shifted away from the particle centre. The present results are useful for elucidating the internal structure of complex aggregates in 3D systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have first investigated a feasibility of a malt-particle collision dynamics (MPCD) method by addressing whether or not the translational and rotational Brownian motion is activated at a physically reasonable level. From the results with respect to the root mean square velocities, we conclude that the MPCD method is a quite feasible simulation technique for a suspension composed of magnetic cubic particles. Then we have applied the MPCD simulation method to a quasi-2D system of magnetic cubic particles in order to control a regime change in the internal structure of particle aggregates by means of the strength and direction of a uniform applied magnetic field. In the case of a magnetic field applied in a certain direction from the 2D plane, a regime change in the internal structure of large densely-packed clusters into a regular configuration is more effectively attained than a magnetic field applied along the 2D plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the behavior of magnetic rod-like particles and their relationship with the heat generation effect for both alternating and rotating magnetic fields, by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. As a common feature for both type of magnetic field variations, in the case of significantly strong particle-particle interaction strengths, densely-packed clusters are formed, which do not contribute to the heat generation. For the case of the alternating magnetic field, in the intermediate frequency range, linear thick chain-like clusters are formed and the constituent rod-like particles themselves tend to rotate to follow the change in the field. In contrast, for the case of the rotating field, linear clusters rotate as a whole body to respond to the magnetic field rotation. In both type of magnetic field variations, the magnetic interactions between the constituent particles in a cluster tend to function to suppress the relaxational motion of the rod-like particles, which, as a result, leads to increase in the heat generation effect in certain situations. In a relatively large frequency region, the rotating applied magnetic field gives rise to a larger heat generation effect, whereas in contrast, in the lower frequency region the alternating magnetic field yields the larger heating effect. Highlights The behavior of magnetic rod-like magnetic particles has been elucidated in the case of an alternating and a rotating magnetic field. The magnetic interactions between the constituent particles in a cluster tend to suppress the relaxation motion of the rod-like particles. The frequency and strength of a time-dependent magnetic field have complex influences on the heating effect. In a relatively large frequency region, the rotating applied magnetic field gives rise to a larger heat generation effect. In a relatively lower frequency region, the alternating magnetic field is superior to the rotating field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have addressed the problem of controlling a regime change in a quasi-2D system of magnetic disk-like particles by means of the strength and direction of an applied magnetic field. In the present study, two typical directions have been addressed, i.e. a y-direction field parallel to the 2D plane and a z-direction field normal to that plane of the particle disk. It is shown that the direction of an applied magnetic field is a significant factor in particle aggregation and can give rise to different regime changes. That is, an applied magnetic field parallel to the 2D system plane functions to induce a regime change in the aggregate structure from linear column-like particle clusters into a knitting-pattern formation, whereas in the case of an applied field normal to the 2D plane, a regime of long column-like clusters transforms into a particle distribution with no discernible internal structure. Key points of the present paper: The direction of an applied magnetic field may give rise to significantly different regime changes in particle aggregation. An applied magnetic field parallel to the 2D system plane induces a regime change from long linear column-like clusters into a knitting-pattern formation. A magnetic field in a direction normal to the 2D plane induces a regime change from long linear column-like clusters into a regime with no discernible internal structure. The strength and the direction of an applied magnetic field is a feasible tool for controlling a regime change in the aggregate structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have addressed the aggregation phenomena of a cubic haematite particle suspension in an alternating magnetic field in order to investigate the regime change in the aggregate structure. Brownian dynamics simulations have been performed for a quasi-two-dimensional system with an alternating magnetic field applied in the plane of the system. In a weak alternating field, the cubic particles aggregate to form closely-packed structures tending to an aligned face-to-face configuration with increasing magnetic particle-particle interaction strength. In a closely-packed cluster, the orientation of the magnetic moment of a constituent particle tends to be more strongly influenced by the magnetic interaction between neighbouring particles and less influenced by the direction of the alternating magnetic field. As the strength of the applied field is increased, the particle moments become more restricted to the direction of the alternating field and the closely-packed structures transform into elongated aggregates with an offset face-to-face configuration. As the direction of the alternating magnetic field switches from the positive to the negative x-direction, the elongated aggregates tend to collapse temporarily and when the orientation of the moments is again strongly restricted to the switched field direction, elongated aggregate structures with offset face-to-face contact are re-formed in the system. Highlights of the present paper We have investigated a regime change in the internal structure of cubic particle aggregates in an alternating magnetic field. As the magnetic field strength is increased, closely-packed aggregates with an aligned face-to-face configuration transform into elongated aggregates with an offset face-to-face configuration. We have clarified that the elongated aggregates collapse temporarily and then re-form when the direction of the alternating magnetic field switches. We have suggested that the frequency of the magnetic field may be used as a means for controlling the local internal structure of particle aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we have implemented a Brownian dynamics simulation of a Hagen-Poiseuille flow in a cylindrical vessel and have investigated the feasibility of multi-pairs of magnetic poles for exhibiting a good particle trapping performance. We have focused on two representative types of configuration consisting of two pairs of magnetic poles. The first is a vertical configuration of two pairs of poles arranged perpendicular to the direction of the flow field. The second is a parallel configuration, where each pair of magnetic poles is arranged along the surface of the vessel wall. In the case of the vertical pole arrangement, although densely-packed aggregates were formed between the poles, their location was unstable in the flow field and they tended to be carried away downstream. In contrast, a densely-packed cluster formed in the parallel arrangement tended locate in a more stable manner along the surface of the wall where the flow field is weaker. We conclude that under appropriate conditions of the magnetic particle-particle interaction strength, the applied magnetic field strength and the pole separation distance, the parallel arrangement of magnetic poles is the configuration of choice for giving rise to a superior trapping performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, by means of quasi-two-dimensional Brownian dynamics simulations, we have addressed the physical phenomena of a suspension composed of cubic haematite particles in a rotating magnetic field in order to elucidate the relationship between aggregate structures and their response to a rotating magnetic field. In the case of a relatively weak magnetic particle-particle interaction, single particles remain without aggregating to form specific clusters, and the magnetic moment of single particles tends to follow a change in the direction of the rotating magnetic field. In the case of a strong magnetic particle-particle interaction, closely-packed clusters with a face-to-face configuration tend to form in the system, although the individual magnetic moments of the constituent particles do not follow the change in the magnetic field direction. As the magnetic field strength is increased, closely-packed structures are transformed into aggregate structures with an offset face-to-face configuration. In this situation, the magnetic moments of constituent particles are strongly restricted to the magnetic field direction, and the aggregates themselves may significantly rotate to follow the change in the orientation of the rotating magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a Brownian dynamics simulation technique for a cubic magnetic particle suspension in a simple shear flow in order to elucidate the relationship between the particle aggregates and the magnetorheological characteristics. A magnetic field is applied in the direction normal to the shearing plane. In a weak applied magnetic field, if the magnetic particle–particle interaction strength is sufficiently large, the particles aggregate to form closely-packed clusters even when subject to the influence of the shear flow. As the magnetic field strength is increased, the closely-packed aggregate structures are transformed into chain-like structures. The net viscosity is increased because the chain-like clusters give rise to a larger resistance to the flow field. As the magnetic field strength is further increased, the chain-like clusters grow into wall-like clusters aligned in the direction of the magnetic field. If the wall-like clusters are the predominant clusters, a magnetic force arises due to a characteristic of the particle arrangement in the wall-like clusters that tends to accelerate the flow field and, as a consequence, decrease the net viscosity. From these results, it may be suggested that under certain conditions a magnetic cubic particle suspension may exhibit a negative contribution to the magnetorheological characteristic. Highlights of the present study We have developed a Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation technique for a magnetic cubic particle suspension. BD simulations have been performed in order to investigate the relationship between particle aggregates and magnetorheological properties. The net viscosity exhibits a complex dependence on the regime of particle aggregates. It is suggested that under certain conditions a magnetic cubic particle suspension may exhibit a negative contribution to the magnetorheological characteristics. An increase in the shear rate causes instability in the face-to-face configuration and leads to the collapse of closely-packed clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have verified that the method of multi-particle collision dynamics (MPCD) is able to activate a physically reasonable level of random motion in the medium of virtual fluid particles and activate the translational, ordinary rotational and spin rotational Brownian motion of the magnetic rod-like particles. MPCD was then applied to a quasi-2D system of rod-like hematite particles. The particle Brownian motion was found slightly over-activated, but this tendency decreased with smaller simulation time steps. The deviation from the theoretical value in the present results may be regarded to be acceptable as a first approximation since the Brownian motion was activated without the addition of any special technique. The applied magnetic field strength is found to play a significant role to enhance the order of the alignment of the raft-like clusters along the direction of the applied magnetic field. A similar orientational regime change along the applied magnetic field may be accomplished by an increase in the volumetric fraction of magnetic particles. We have therefore concluded that both an applied magnetic field and the particle volumetric fraction may be feasible parameters for inducing a regime change in the ordering of the orientation of rod-like hematite particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study addresses the physical phenomena of a suspension composed of magnetic spherical particles in a rotating magnetic field in order to elucidate the influence of particle aggregation phenomena on the heat production from Brownian relaxation by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. In the case of a weak magnetic particle-particle interaction, particles do not aggregate to form specific cluster configurations. In this situation, the magnetic moment of each particle quickly inclines toward the field direction, and single particles do not give rise to a sufficiently large heating effect. With an increasing magnetic interaction between particles, chain-like clusters tend to form in the system and function to offer a larger resistance to the orientation of the magnetic moments, which leads to an increase in the heating effect. In the case of a significantly strong magnetic particle-particle interaction, the particles tend to aggregate to form stable ring-like clusters where the magnetic moments of the constituent particles are not able to be so responsive to the rotating magnetic field and this leads to a decrease in the heating effect. Highlights of the present paper The characteristics of particle aggregation have been clarified. The relationship between the strength of the magnetic particle-particle interaction and the frequency of the rotating magnetic field on the aggregation phenomena has been clarified. The response of the particle aggregates to an applied rotating magnetic field has been clarified. The relationship between the performance of the degree of heat production and the internal structure of magnetic particle configurations has been clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have elucidated the feasibility of trapping magnetic rod-like particles that flow in a cylindrical pipe in terms of a non-uniform magnetic field. We have performed Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations in order to clarify the influence that various factors have on the attachment or trapping characteristics of magnetic rod-like particles to the poles. The employment of a local linearisation approximation enables us to apply the BD method that was fully-developed for a simple shear flow to the present Hagen-Poiseuille flow. In the case of a sufficiently small magnetic interaction between the particles, numerous rod-like particles may attach to the magnetic poles if the influence of a non-uniform magnetic field is sufficiently more dominant than that of the flow field, otherwise, the particles flow away along the centreline of the cylindrical pipe. If the magnetic interactions are sufficiently more dominant than both the flow field and the non-uniform magnetic field, the particles aggregate to form densely-packed clusters that flow away along the centreline area of the pipe without being trapped at the poles. In the situation of insufficient magnetic interactions, thin chain-like clusters may be formed from several anchored particles trapped to the poles and incline in the downstream direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have proposed a new repulsive layer model for describing the interaction between steric layers of coated cubic particles. This approach is an effective technique applicable to particle-based simulations such as a Brownian dynamics simulation of a suspension composed of cubic particles. 3D Brownian dynamics simulations employing this repulsive interaction model have been performed in order to investigate the equilibrium aggregate structures of a suspension composed of cubic haematite particles. It has been verified that Brownian dynamics employing the present steric interaction model are in good agreement with Monte Carlo results with respect to particle aggregate structures and particle orientational characteristics. From the viewpoint of developing a surface modification technology, we have also investigated a regime change in the aggregate structure of cubic particle in a quasi-2D system by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. If the magnetic particle–particle interaction strength is relatively strong, in zero applied magnetic field the particles aggregate in an offset face-to-face configuration. As the magnetic field strength is increased, the offset face-to-face structure is transformed into a more direct face-to-face contact configuration that extends throughout the whole simulation region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cubic particles magnetised along a diagonal direction are negatively charged and confined between two parallel electrode walls. These particles have a tendency to migrate toward and attach to the positive electrode together with the formation of chain-like clusters. We here have focused on three cases of external magnetic field direction. In the case of an external magnetic field applied in the oblique direction to the electrode wall, almost all the constituent particles of the chain-like clusters attach to the positive electrode wall in a face-to-face contact manner. In the case of an external magnetic field applied along the surface of the electrode wall, the chain-like clusters are formed in the space of the two parallel walls. In the case of an external magnetic field applied normal to the electrode wall, the tendency for the particles to form chain-like clusters along the electrode wall is the weaker among the three field directions. In this situation, the cubic particles attach to the wall surface with a vertex of the cube contacting with the surface, and from the anchored particle, a chain-like cluster is formed in the space between the two parallel walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have elucidated the feasibility of the multi-particle collision dynamics (MPCD) method as a technique for the simulation of a magnetic particle suspension, by addressing the dependence of the translational and rotational Brownian motion of the magnetic particles on the parameters that characterise a MPCD simulation. A reasonable level of activation of the Brownian motion is indispensable for simulating the aggregate structures of the magnetic particles because their internal structure is strongly dependent on particle Brownian motion. In the present study, we have employed a diffuse reflection model for treating the interaction between the fluid and the magnetic particles. The diffuse reflection model gives rise to the tendency that the translational Brownian motion of the magnetic particles is more significantly activated than the rotational Brownian motion. If a scaling coefficient is introduced for modifying the interaction between the fluid and the magnetic particles, a more accurate solution may be obtained in regard to the aggregate structures of the magnetic particles. We may conclude that the MPCD method with the diffuse reflection model is a promising simulation technique for analysing the behaviour of magnetic particles in a suspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a simple assessment method for the overlap between spheroidal particles, which neither requires the complex manipulation of vectors and matrices that is indispensable in the ordinary methods, nor is based on a model potential. Moreover, we have developed an evaluation method for the interaction energy arising from the overlap of the steric layer coating spheroidal particles. This is based on a sphere-connected particle model, but some modifications are introduced in order to express an appropriate repulsive interaction energy at the deepest overlapping position. We have investigated the phase change in a magnetic spheroidal particle suspension for a two-dimensional system by means of Monte Carlo simulations. In the case of no external magnetic field, if the magnetic particle-particle interaction is sufficiently strong to favour cluster formation, long raft-like clusters tend to be formed in a dilute situation. With decreasing values of area fraction, a chain-like structure in a dense situation transforms into a raft-like structure within a narrow range of the particle area fraction. Similarly, the raft-like clusters are preferred in a weak applied magnetic field, but an increase in the field strength induces a phase change from a raft-like into a chain-like structure. Highlights of the present paper: A simple assessment method has been proposed for the overlap between two spheroidal particles. The particle overlap assessment is free from a complex mathematical manipulation regarding vectors and matrices. A modified sphere-connected model has been proposed in order to more accurately evaluate a repulsive interaction due to the overlap of the steric layers coating spheroidal particles. 2D Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to elucidate the phenomenon of a phase change by magnetic spheroidal particles on a material plane surface. A phase change between a raft-like and a chain-like aggregate structure is able to be controlled by the area fraction of particles and an external magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we concentrate on the results of the unexpected characteristic that the stable particle cluster formation induces a decrease in the degree of heating effect in an alternating magnetic field, by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. If chain-like clusters are stably formed in the system, whether or not a large heating effect is obtained is dependent on the magnitude relationship between the magnetic particle-particle and the magnetic particle-field interaction strengths. As the magnetic particle-particle interaction strength increases and becomes more dominant than the influence of the magnetic field, the magnetic moments of stable chain-like clusters do not have a sufficient tendency to inline in the field direction. This leads to a smaller area of the hysteresis loop, and therefore the stable cluster formation induces a significant decrease in the heating effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the aggregate structure of a suspension composed of magnetic particles with a cubic geometry by means of Monte Carlo simulations. From the viewpoint of application to the technology of surface modification, we have considered a quasi-two-dimensional suspension in thermodynamic equilibrium. As the magnetic interaction strength is increased, the effects of the thermal energy are reduced and the particles tend to aggregate together. These aggregates of cubic particles are not chain-like, but are designated as closely packed clusters. An applied magnetic field tends to enhance the formation of clusters along the field direction but does not significantly regularise the internal structure of the cluster. This is mainly due to the preference of a face-to-face contact configuration for the alignment of particles with cubic geometry. The regime of the internal structure of aggregates has a significant effect on the characteristics of the alignment of the magnetic moments with regard to the external magnetic field direction. Our simulations indicate that larger closely packed clusters are formed with increasing volumetric fraction, whereas the internal structure of the closely packed clusters is not found to be significantly influenced by the change in the volumetric fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A suspension of ferromagnetic rod-like particles can be expected to exhibit strong magneto-rheological characteristics, which is a significantly important factor for application of magnetic particle suspensions to mechanical dampers and actuators. Hence, in the present study, we address a suspension composed of ferromagnetic rod-like particles in thermodynamic equilibrium. We here investigate the dependence of the phase change in aggregate structures on the various factors such as magnetic field strength, magnetic particle–particle interaction strength and volumetric fraction of magnetic particles. Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out to obtain results of snapshots, radial distribution function and order parameter of the system. In a weak applied magnetic field, the magnetic rod-like particles tend to aggregate to form raft-like clusters if the magnetic particle–particle interaction is much larger than thermal energy. If the magnetic field is increased, these raft-like clusters drastically dissociate into single-moving particles, that is, the phase change in aggregate structures arises. Moreover, the phase change in the aggregate structures is induced by the magnetic particle–particle interaction strength, from no cluster formation to long and thick chain-like clusters, in a strong applied magnetic field circumstance. As the length of the magnetic rod-like particles is increased, the orientational configuration comes to have a more significant effect on the cluster formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated aggregation phenomena in a suspension composed of rod-like haematite particles by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. The magnetic moment of the haematite particles lies normal to the particle axis direction and therefore the present Brownian dynamics method takes into account the spin rotational Brownian motion about the particle axis. We have investigated the influence of the magnetic particle–field and particle–particle interactions, the shear rate and the volumetric fraction of particles on the particle aggregation phenomena. Snapshots of aggregate structures are used for a qualitative discussion and the cluster size distribution, radial distribution function and the orientational correlation functions of the direction of particle axis and magnetic moment are the focus for a quantitative discussion. The significant formation of raft-like clusters is found to occur at a magnetic particle–particle interaction strength much larger than that required for a magnetic spherical particle suspension. This is because the rotational Brownian motion has a significant influence on the formation of clusters in a suspension of rod-like particles with a large aspect ratio. An applied magnetic field enhances the formation of raft-like clusters. A shear flow does not have a significant influence on the internal structure of the clusters, but influences the cluster size distribution of the raft-like clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the orientational properties of an oblate spheroidal hematite particle and also its influence on the rheological characteristics of a dilute suspension of these magnetic particles, by means of an analytical approach based on the orientational distribution function. A hematite particle with oblate spheroidal shape has an important characteristic; that is, it is magnetized in a direction normal to the particle axis. From the balance of the torques acting on a particle, we have developed the basic equation of the orientational distribution function. This basic equation has been numerically solved in order to investigate the dependence of the orientational distribution on the various factors. If both the magnetic field and the shear flow are weak, the particle does not exhibit specific directional characteristics. If the magnetic field is more dominant, the particle inclines such that the oblate surface is parallel to the magnetic field direction. If the shear flow becomes more dominant, the particle shows a sharper peak of the orientational distribution in the shear flow direction. The viscosity due to the magnetic torque increases and finally converges to a constant value as the magnetic field increases. In a sedimentation process under the gravitational field, the translational diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing magnetic field strength in the present case of the magnetic field direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a lattice Boltzmann method based on fluctuation hydrodynamics that is applicable to the flow problem of a particle suspension. In this method, we have introduced the viscosity-modifying method, rather than the velocity-scaling method, in which a modified viscosity is used for generating random forces in lattice Boltzmann simulations. The viscosity-modifying method is found to be applicable to the simulation of a magnetic particle suspension. We have applied this method to the two-dimensional Poiseuille flow of a magnetic suspension between two parallel walls in order to investigate the behavior of magnetic particles in a non-uniform applied magnetic field. From the results of the snapshots, the pair correlation function between the magnetic pole and the magnetic particles and the averaged local particle velocity and magnetization distributions, it was observed that the behavior of the magnetic particles changes significantly depending upon which factor dominates the phenomenon in the balance between the magnetic particle–particle interaction, the non-uniform applied magnetic field and the translational and rotational Brownian motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]