• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.148-157
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• 1994

A multi-cylindrical hydraulic valve incorporating with an electro-rheological(ER) fluid is developed in this study. Field-dependent Bingham properties of the ER fluid are exploited to devise the valve system which features fast system response as well as simple mechanism. The fast response is accrued from almost instant response characteristics of the ER fluid itself, and the mechanism configuration is simplified since no nechanically moving parts are required. The material properties of the ER fluids to be utilized for modeling of the proposed valve system are firstly tested with a couette-type electroviscometer. The design and manufacturing processes are then undertaken on the basis of model parameters. The performance characteristics of the valve system are evaluated in terms of pressure variations with respect to the intensity of employed electric fields and flow rates.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.887-893
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• 2005

The aggregability of red blood cells (RBCs) was determined by laser backscattering light analysis in a microfluidic channel. Available techniques for RBC aggregation often adopt a rotational Couette-flow using a bob-and-cup system for disaggregating RBCs, which causes the system to be complex and expensive. A disposable microfluidic channel and vibration generating mechanism were used in the proposed new detection system for RBC aggregation. Prior to measurement, RBC aggregates in a blood sample were completely disaggregated by the application of vibration-induced shear. With the present apparatus, the aggregation indexes of RBCs can be measured easily with small quantities of a blood sample. The measurements with the present aggregometer were compared with those of LORCA and the results showed a strong correlation between them. The aggregability of the defibrinogenated blood RBCs is markedly lower than that of the normal RBCs. The noble feature of this design is the vibration-induced disaggregation mechanism, which can incorporate the disposable element that holds the blood sample.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.142-147
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• 1981

A blend polymeric system composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA or PM) and polystyrene (PS) dissolved in chloroform was rheologically studied. The viscosities ${\eta}_{bl}$ of the blend system with various blending ratios ${\chi}$ changing from zero (pure PS solution) to unity (pure PMMA solution) were measured at $25{\circ}C$ as a function of shear rates ${\dot{s}}$ by using a Couette type viscometer. ${\eta}_{bl}$ at a given ${\dot{s}}$ decreased exponentially with ${\chi}$ reaching asymptotic constant value of ${\eta}_{bl}$ ; ${\eta}_{bl}$ at a given ${\chi}$ is greater at a smaller ${\dot{s}}$. These results are explained by using Ree-Erying's theory of viscosity, ${\eta}_{bl}=(x_1{\beta}_1/{\alpha}_1)_{b}_1＋ (x_2{\beta}_2/{\alpha}_2)_{bl}[sinh^{-1}{\beta}_2(bl) {\dot{s}}]/{\beta}_2(bl){\dot{s}}$. The Gibbs activation energy ${\Delta}G_i^\neq$(i = 2 for non-Newtonian units) entering into the intrinsic relaxation time ${\beta}$ is represented by a linear combination ${\Delta}G_i^\neq(bl) ={\chi}{\Delta}G_i^{\neq}_{iPM}+(1-{\chi}){\Delta}G_i^{\neq}_{iPS}$;the intrinsic shear modulus$[[\alpha}_i]^{-1}$ is also represented by $[{\alpha}_i(bl)]^{-1}={\chi}[{\alpha}_{iPM}]^{-1}+(1-{\chi})[{\alpha}_{iPS}]^{-1}$ and the fraction of area on a shear surface occupied by the ith flow units $x_i(bl)$ is similarly represented, i.e., $x_i(bl) = {\chi}x_{iPM}+(1-{\chi})x_{iPS}$. By using these ideas the Ree-Eyring equation was rewritten which explained the experimental results satisfactorily.