Rheometry-PIV of shear-thickening wormlike micelles

The shear-thickening behavior of an equimolar semidilute aqueous solution of 40 mM/L cetylpyridinium chloride and sodium salicylate was studied in this work by using a combined method of rheometry and particle image velocimetry (PIV). Experiments were conducted at 27.5 degrees C with Couette, vane-bob, and capillary rheometers in order to explore a wide shear stress range as well as the effect of boundary conditions and time of flow on the creation and destruction of shear-induced structures (SIS). The use of the combined method of capillary rheometry with PIV allowed the detection of fast spatial and temporal variations in the flow kinematics, which are related to the shear-thickening behavior and the dynamics of the SIS but are not distinguished by pure rheometrical measurements. A rich-in-details flow curve was found for this solution, which includes five different regimes. Namely, at very low shear rates a Newtonian behavior was found, followed by a shear thinning one in the second regime. In the third, shear banding was observed, which served as a precursor of the SIS and shear-thickening. The fourth and fifth regimes in the flow curve were separated by a spurtlike behavior, and they clearly evidenced the existence of shear-thickening accompanied by stick-slip oscillations at the wall of the rheometer, which subsequently produced variations in the shear rate under shear stress controlled flow. Such a stick-slip phenomenon prevailed up to the highest shear stresses used in this work and was reflected in asymmetric velocity profiles with spatial and temporal variations linked to the dynamics of creation and breakage of the SIS. The presence of apparent slip at the wall of the rheometer provides an energy release mechanism which leads to breakage of the SIS, followed by their further reformation during the stick part of the cycles. In addition, PIV measurements allowed the detection of apparent slip at the wall, as well as mechanical failures in the bulk of the fluid, which suggests an extra contribution of the shear stress field to the SIS dynamics. Increasing the residence time of the fluid in the flow system enhanced the shear-thickening behavior. Finally, the flow kinematics is described in detail and the true flow curve is obtained, which only partially fits into the scheme of existing theoretical models for shear-thickening solutions.     

Simulation of Viscoelastic Fluid Flows in Expansion Geometry Using Finite Volume Approach简

The simulation results on viscoelastic fluid flows in sudden expansion geometry with different expansion ratios are presented. Oldroyd-B, linear Phan-Thien-Tanner （L-PTT） and Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic （FENE-P） based constitutive equations were applied in two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates. The governing equations in transient and fully developed regions were solved using open source software called OpenFOAM. The flow patterns, including velocity profiles, shear stresses and first normal stress differences in some horizontal and vertical sections are illustrated. In addition, effects of the fluid type, flow dynamics and expansion ratio on the flow and vortex patterns in transient and fully developed regions are presented and discussed. The presented results show that existences of vortices cause the inverse velocity and negative stresses in expansion regions of the channel which increase with increment of expansion ratio and Weissenberg number （We）. Furthermore, some dead spaces can be observed at channel expansion regions close to the wall which are also increased. The results also show that at low We numbers all fluids show close behavior while at high We numbers the FENE-P fluid behavior shows high divergence from that of the two other fluids.     

Time-dependent structural breakdown of microencapsulated phase change materials suspensions

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) suspensions are multi-phase heat transfer fluids which exploit the latent heat of phase change materials. The effect of MPCM on the rheological properties of suspensions of microcapsules in glycerol were investigated to explore the suitability of the suspensions as a pumpable heat transfer fluid. Three different rheological models were utilized to characterize the time-dependent structural breakdown of the suspensions, and the second-order structural kinetic model was found to give a better fit to the experimental data than the Weltman and Figoni-Shoemaker models. The MPCM form agglomerates, which are disrupted by shear forces. The breakdown of the agglomerated structures was most pronounced at high shear rates where the microcapsules are subjected to stronger disruptive forces. More agglomerates are present at higher concentrations, which causes a stronger breakdown of the agglomerated structures when the concentration is raised. The time-dependent structural breakdown of MPCM suspensions plays an important role for improving the efficiency of heat transfer liquids based on such materials.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Heterogeneous/homogeneous and inclined magnetic aspect of infinite shear rate viscosity model of Carreau fluid with nanoscale heat transport

The study of the inclined flow along with the heterogeneous/homogeneous reactions in the fluid has been widely used in many industrial and engineering applications, such as petrochemical, pharmaceutical, materials science, heat exchanger design, fluid flow through porous media, etc. The purpose of this study is to present an infinite shear rate viscosity model using the inclined Carreau fluid with nanoscale heat transport. The model considers the effect of inclined angle on the fluid’s viscosity and the transfer of heat at the nanoscale. The result shows that the viscosity of the fluid decreases by increasing the inclination angle and the coefficient of heat transfer also increases with the inclination. The model can be used to predict the viscosity and heat transfer fluid’s behavior in the inclined systems that is widely used in the industrial and engineering applications. The results provide a better understanding of the inclined flow behavior of fluids and the heat transfer at the nanoscale, which can be useful in heat exchanger design, fluid flow through porous media, etc. Greater Infinite shear rate viscosity parameter gives the higher magnitude of Carreau fluid velocity. Moreover, inclined magnetic field reduces the velocity due to Lorentz force. Two numerical schemes are used to solve the model, BVP4C and Shooting.     

Phase behavior of a simple dipolar fluid under shear flow in an electric field

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are performed on a dense simple dipolar fluid under a planar Couette shear flow. Shear generates heat, which is removed by thermostatting terms added to the equations of motion of the fluid particles. The spatial structure of simple fluids at high shear rates is known to depend strongly on the thermostatting mechanism chosen. Kinetic thermostats are either biased or unbiased: biased thermostats neglect the existence of secondary flows that appear at high shear rates superimposed upon the linear velocity profile of the fluid. Simulations that employ a biased thermostat produce a string phase where particles align in strings with hexagonal symmetry along the direction of the flow. This phase is known to be a simulation artifact of biased thermostatting, and has not been observed by experiments on colloidal suspensions under shear flow. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using a suitably directed electric field, which is coupled to the dipole moments of the fluid particles, to stabilize the string phase. We explore several thermostatting mechanisms where either the kinetic or configurational fluid degrees of freedom are thermostated. Some of these mechanisms do not yield a string phase, but rather a shear-thickening phase; in this case, we find the influence of the dipolar interactions and external field on the packing structure, and in turn their influence on the shear viscosity at the onset of this shear-thickening regime.     

Rheology of branched wormlike micelles

The topology of self-assembled surfactant solutions includes varying degrees of micellar branching, ranging from linear wormlike micelles to a micellar network. Micellar branching acts as an effective attraction between micelles such that network condensation can lead to phase separation. Unlike chemical branching in polymers, micellar branches are labile. Movement of branches along a micelle contour has therefore been proposed as a mechanism of stress relaxation that leads to a reduction in the structural relaxation time and thus, the zero-shear viscosity. Branching is also thought to suppress flow alignment, and for lower levels of branching, may also suppress instabilities such as shear banding. The suppression of shear banding can lead to a lesser degree of shear-thinning in the apparent viscosity at higher shear rates, as well as a reduction in extensional thickening. However, for higher levels of branching, shear can induce branching for samples in proximity to such a phase transition, which can result in shear banding due to shear-induced phase separation. Recent modeling and simulations of the energetics of branching, as well as experiments on model systems, show that the reduction in zero-shear viscosity is due to micelle branching. Current research includes efforts to develop a more mechanistic, quantitative understanding of micellar branching and more generally, its effects on micellar solution rheology.     

Electrorheological suspensions of laponite in oil: rheometry studies

We have studied the effect of an external direct current (DC) electric field ( approximately 1 kV/mm) on the rheological properties of colloidal suspensions consisting of aggregates of laponite particles in a silicone oil. Microscopy observations show that, under application of an electric field greater than a triggering electric field Ec approximately 0.6 kV/mm, laponite aggregates assemble into chain- and/or columnlike structures in the oil. Without an applied electric field, the steady-state shear behavior of such suspensions is Newtonian-like. Under application of an electric field larger than Ec, it changes dramatically as a result of the changes in the microstructure: a significant yield stress is measured, and under continuous shear the fluid is shear-thinning. The rheological properties, in particular the dynamic and static shear stress, were studied as a function of particle volume fraction for various strengths (including null) of the applied electric field. The flow curves at constant shear rate can be scaled with respect to both the particle fraction and electric field strength onto a master curve. This scaling is consistent with simple scaling arguments. The shape of the master curve accounts for the system's complexity; it approaches a standard power-law model at high Mason numbers. Both dynamic and static yield stresses are observed to depend on the particle fraction Phi and electric field E as PhibetaEalpha, with alpha approximately 1.85 and beta approximately 1 and 1.70 for the dynamic and static yield stresses, respectively. The yield stress was also determined as the critical stress at which there occurs a bifurcation in the rheological behavior of suspensions that are submitted to a constant shear stress; a scaling law with alpha approximately 1.84 and beta approximately 1.70 was obtained. The effectiveness of the latter technique confirms that such electrorheological (ER) fluids can be studied in the framework of thixotropic fluids. The method is very reproducible; we suggest that it could be used routinely for studying ER fluids. The measured overall yield stress behavior of the suspensions may be explained in terms of standard conduction models for electrorheological systems. Interesting prospects include using such systems for guided self-assembly of clay nanoparticles.     

Structure of electrorheological fluids under an electric field and a shear flow: experiment and computer simulation

It is known that macroscopic properties of colloidal suspensions are often determined by the microstructure of the particles in the suspensions, depending on the interparticle, Brownian, and hydrodynamic (if any) forces. We take electrorheological (ER) fluids as an example. By using a computer simulation and an experimental approach, we investigate the structure of ER fluids subjected to both an electric field and a shear flow. The microstructure evolution from random structure, to chains, and then to stable lamellar patterns, observed in the experiments, agrees very well with that obtained in the simulations. It is shown that the formation of such lamellar patterns originates from the difference between the dipole moment induced in the particles suspended in the ER fluids without shear and the one with shear. The results on the relaxation process of structural formation and the internal structure of layers are also presented. Thus, it seems possible to achieve various structures and hence desired macroscopic properties of colloidal suspensions by adjusting external fields and, simultaneously, a shear flow.     

微孔中简单流体粘度的分子动力学模拟及关联模型

用分子动力学模拟计算了微孔介质中流体氩在不同温度、不同密度和不同孔径下的剪切粘度.并根据Chapman-Enskog关于硬球流体传递性质的理论以及Heyes的关于Lennard-Jones流体粘度的表达式,提出了两个描述微孔介质中流体粘度的模型,该模型可以计算微孔中流体氩在不同状态下的粘度值.通过与计算机模拟值的比较,证明这两个微孔流体粘度模型是可用的.     

Molecular diffusion and slip boundary conditions at smooth surfaces with periodic and random nanoscale textures

The influence of periodic and random surface textures on the flow structure and effective slip length in Newtonian fluids is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We consider a situation where the typical pattern size is smaller than the channel height and the local boundary conditions at wetting and nonwetting regions are characterized by finite slip lengths. In the case of anisotropic patterns, transverse flow profiles are reported for flows over alternating stripes of different wettability when the shear flow direction is misaligned with respect to the stripe orientation. The angular dependence of the effective slip length obtained from MD simulations is in good agreement with hydrodynamic predictions provided that the stripe width is larger than several molecular diameters. We found that the longitudinal component of the slip velocity along the shear flow direction is proportional to the interfacial diffusion coefficient of fluid monomers in that direction at equilibrium. In case of random textures, the effective slip length and the diffusion coefficient of fluid monomers in the first layer near the heterogeneous surface depend sensitively on the total area of wetting regions.     

Shear stresses of colloidal dispersions at the glass transition in equilibrium and in flow

We consider a model dense colloidal dispersion at the glass transition, and investigate the connection between equilibrium stress fluctuations, seen in linear shear moduli, and the shear stresses under strong flow conditions far from equilibrium, viz., flow curves for finite shear rates. To this purpose, thermosensitive core-shell particles consisting of a polystyrene core and a cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell were synthesized. Data over an extended range in shear rates and frequencies are compared to theoretical results from integrations through transients and mode coupling approaches. The connection between nonlinear rheology and glass transition is clarified. While the theoretical models semiquantitatively fit the data taken in fluid states and the predominant elastic response of glass, a yet unaccounted dissipative mechanism is identified in glassy states.     

Viscosimeter on a microfluidic chip

In this work, a viscosimeter implemented on a microfluidic chip is presented. The physical principle of this system is to use laminar parallel flows in a microfluidic channel. The fluid to be studied flows side by side with a reference fluid of known viscosity. By using optical microscopy, the shape of the interface between both fluids can be determined. Knowing the flow rates of the two liquids and the geometrical features of the channel, the mean shear rate sustained by the fluid and its viscosity can thus be computed. Accurate and precise measurements of the viscosity as a function of the shear rate can be made using less than 300 microL of fluid. Several complex fluids are tested with viscosities ranging from 10(-)(3) to 70 Pa.s.     

Interplay between shear flow and elastic deformations in liquid crystals

We study shear flow in liquid crystal cells with elastic deformations using a lattice Boltzmann scheme that solves the full, three-dimensional Beris-Edwards equations of hydrodynamics. We consider first twisted and hybrid aligned nematic cells, in which the deformation is imposed by conflicting anchoring at the boundaries. We find that backflow renders the velocity profile non Newtonian, and that the director profile divides into two regions characterized by different director orientations. We next consider a cholesteric liquid crystal, in which a twist deformation is naturally present. We confirm the presence of secondary flow for small shear rates, and are able to follow the dynamical pathway of shear-induced unwinding, for higher shear rates. Finally, we analyze how the coupling between shear and elastic deformation can affect shear banding in an initially isotropic phase. We find that for a nematic liquid crystal, elastic distortions may cause an asymmetry in the dynamics of band formation, whereas for a cholesteric, shear can induce twist in an initially isotropic sample.     

Microfluidic flows of wormlike micellar solutions

The widespread use of wormlike micellar solutions is commonly found in household items such as cosmetic products, industrial fluids used in enhanced oil recovery and as drag reducing agents, and in biological applications such as drug delivery and biosensors. Despite their extensive use, there are still many details about the microscopic micellar structure and the mechanisms by which wormlike micelles form under flow that are not clearly understood. Microfluidic devices provide a versatile platform to study wormlike micellar solutions under various flow conditions and confined geometries. A review of recent investigations using microfluidics to study the flow of wormlike micelles is presented here with an emphasis on three different flow types: shear, elongation, and complex flow fields. In particular, we focus on the use of shear flows to study shear banding, elastic instabilities of wormlike micellar solutions in extensional flow (including stagnation and contraction flow field), and the use of contraction geometries to measure the elongational viscosity of wormlike micellar solutions. Finally, we showcase the use of complex flow fields in microfluidics to generate a stable and nanoporous flow-induced structured phase (FISP) from wormlike micellar solutions. This review shows that the influence of spatial confinement and moderate hydrodynamic forces present in the microfluidic device can give rise to a host of possibilities of microstructural rearrangements and interesting flow phenomena.     

Rheological Properties and Crosslinking Rheo-Kinetics of CMHEC/CTAB Synergistic Systems

Aiming at synergistic interaction between carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), mixtures of CMHEC and CTAB solutions were investigated, employing relative viscosity and rheological measurements. The effects of mass ratio of CMHEC and CTAB solutions, temperature, and polysaccharide concentration on relative viscosities of CMHEC/CTAB systems were studied. Rheological method was used to study rheo-kinetics of the isothermal crosslinking process for CMHEC/CTAB synergistic fracturing fluid, and the novel crosslinking rheo-kinetics equation was established. The results showed the strong synergism between CMHEC and CTAB, resulting in a higher relative viscosity, storage modulus G′, and loss modulus G″ than that of separate ones. CMHEC/CTAB systems behave as pseudoplastic fluids with considerable thixotropy and viscoelasticity, and the flow behavior can be well described by Carreau?Williamson model. The crosslinking rheo-kinetics equation can well describe the isothermal crosslinking process at different shear rates. The model parameters are well-defined and reasonable.     

Development of the split-Hopkinson pressure bar technique for viscous fluid characterization

The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique has been employed to evaluate the dynamic squeeze flow behavior of viscous Newtonian fluids. In this paper, the conditions under which classic Hopkinson bar data analysis is applicable for fluid specimens are discussed in detail. Requirements include the development of a parabolic flow profile and associated pressure distribution across the specimen. The times required for these processes to occur are calculated and compared with the experimental timescale in order to establish a specimen design criterion for valid SHPB testing. To evaluate this design criterion, an isothermal squeeze flow model describing the behavior of a cylindrical fluid specimen which includes inertial forces is used to predict the experimental results for a model Newtonian fluid. Good agreement between the theory and the experiment is obtained for thin specimens (1.0 mm) across a wide range of shear strain rates (over 10⁵ s⁻¹). As a result of this study, the conditions under which valid SHPB experimental results may be obtained for a Newtonian fluid specimen are identified.     

Shear-induced effects in hyperbranched-linear polyelectrolyte complexes

Static and dynamic properties of complexes formed by hyperbranched polymers with linear polyelectrolytes are studied under the influence of steady shear flow by means of Brownian dynamics simulations. Models of peripherally charged hyperbranched molecules bearing two extreme topological structures and different molecular weights complexed with linear neutralizing chains are subjected to a range of shear rates starting from a low-shear regime toward the complex-breaking point. Examination of the stability limit, shape and mass distribution parameters, and dynamics in different lengths and timescales is performed as a function of the applied shear. The results described illustrate features of the generic behavior that should be expected from such systems under conditions of steady shear flow.