Flow of wet granular materials

The transition from frictional to lubricated flows of a dense suspension of non-Brownian particles is studied. The pertinent parameter characterizing this transition is the Leighton number Le=eta(s)gamma / sigma, the ratio of lubrication to frictional forces. Le defines a critical shear rate below which no steady flow without localization exists. In the frictional regime the shear flow is localized. The lubricated regime is not simply viscous: the ratio of shear to normal stresses remains constant and the velocity profile has a universal form in both frictional and lubricated regimes. Finally, a discrepancy between local and global measurements of viscosity is identified, which suggests inhomogeneity of the material under flow.     

Ultrasound and light scattering from a suspension of reversible fractal clusters in shear flow

Shear break-up of reversible fractal clusters is investigated by ultrasound and multiple light scattering in the low shear regime. We consider a dense suspension of Rayleigh scatterers (particles or clusters) with acoustic properties close to those of the surrounding liquid so that the attenuation of the ultrasonic coherent field is weak and multiple scattering is negligible. The concept of variance in local particle volume fraction is used to derive an original expression of the ultrasound scattering cross-section per unit volume for Rayleigh fractal clusters. On the basis of a scaling law for the shear break-up of aggregates, then we derive the shear stress dependence of the ultrasound scattered intensity from a suspension of reversible fractal clusters. In a second part, we present rheo-acoustical experiments to study the shear break-up of hardened red cell aggregates in plane-plane flow geometry and we examine both the self consistent field approximation and the scaling laws used in microrheological models. We further compare the ability of acoustical backscattering and optical reflectometry techniques to estimate the critical disaggregation shear stress and the particle surface adhesive energy. Finally, the microrheological model from Snabre and Mills [#!ref5!#] based on a fractal approach is shown to describe the non Newtonian behavior of a dense distribution of hardened red cell aggregates. Received 12 November 1998 and Received in final form 17 May 1999     

Unifying suspension and granular rheology

Using an original pressure-imposed shear cell, we study the rheology of dense suspensions. We show that they exhibit a viscoplastic behavior similarly to granular media successfully described by a frictional rheology and fully characterized by the evolution of the friction coefficient μ and the volume fraction ? with a dimensionless viscous number I(v). Dense suspension and granular media are thus unified under a common framework. These results are shown to be compatible with classical empirical models of suspension rheology and provide a clear determination of constitutive laws close to the jamming transition.     

Rheology of nanosized hairy grain suspensions

Suspensions of nanosized hairy grains have been prepared by grafting long polydimethylsiloxane chains (molecular weight ) onto silica particles (radius ), dispersed into a good solvent of PDMS. Depending on the particle volume fraction, different rheological behaviors are observed. In the very dilute regime, the suspensions are perfectly stable and the particles behave almost as hard spheres: flow penetration inside the corona is then very weak. When the particle volume fraction goes to the close packing volume fraction, the suspension viscosity does not diverge as for hard spheres due to the increase of flow penetration inside the corona and to corona entanglements. The particles have then the same behavior as polymer stars having an intermediate number of arms (). Finally, in the concentrated regime (), the suspensions form irreversible gels. We shown that this unexpected gelation phenomenon is related to the presence of the silica cores: grafted PDMS chains can adsorb onto different particles and form irreversible bonds between the cores. The viscosity and elastic modulus evolutions during gelation are well described by the scalar percolation model of sol-gel transition. Received 23 March 1998     

Flow, ordering, and jamming of sheared granular suspensions

We study the rheological properties of a granular suspension subject to constant shear stress by constant volume molecular dynamics simulations. We derive the system "flow diagram" in the volume fraction or stress plane (phi, F): at low phi the flow is disordered, with the viscosity obeying a Bagnold-like scaling only at small F and diverging as the jamming point is approached; if the shear stress is strong enough, at higher phi an ordered flow regime is found, the order-disorder transition being marked by a sharp drop of the viscosity. A broad jamming region is also observed where, in analogy with the glassy region of thermal systems, slow dynamics followed by kinetic arrest occurs when the ordering transition is prevented.     

Kinetic theory of nonlinear viscous flow in two and three dimensions

On the basis of a nonlinear kinetic equation for a moderately dense system of hard spheres and disks it is shown that shear and normal stresses in a steady-state, uniform shear flow contain singular contributions of the form ¦X¦^3/2 for hard spheres, or ¦X¦ log ¦X¦ for hard disks. HereX is proportional to the velocity gradient in the shear flow. The origin of these terms is closely related to the hydrodynamic tails t^–d/2 in the current-current correlation functions. These results also imply that a nonlinear shear viscosity exists in two-dimensional systems. An extensive discussion is given on the range ofX values where the present theory can be applied, and numerical estimates of the effects are given for typical circumstances in laboratory and computer experiments.Supported by National Science Foundation grant No. CHE-73-08856 (to HvB, JRD, and JS) and the Center for Theoretical Physics of the Univ. of Md. (to HvB).On leave from Institute of Theoretical Physics, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland.     

Transport coefficients of hard sphere fluids

New calculations have been made of the self-diffusion coefficient D, the shear viscosity η_s, the bulk viscosity η_b and thermal conductivity λ of the hard sphere fluid, using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulation. A newly developed hard sphere MD scheme was used to model the hard sphere fluid over a wide range up to the glass transition (～0.57 packing fraction). System sizes of up to 32 000 hard spheres were considered. This set of transport coefficient data was combined with others taken from the literature to test a number of previously proposed analytical formulae for these quantities together with some new ones given here. Only the self-diffusion coefficient showed any substantial N dependence for N < 500 at equilibrium fluid densities (ε 0.494). D increased with N, especially at intermediate densities in the range ε ～ 0.3–0.35. The expression for the packing fraction dependence of D proposed by Speedy, R. J., 1987, Molec. Phys., 62, 509 was shown to fit these data well for N ～ 500 particle systems. We found that the packing fraction ε dependence of the two viscosities and thermal conductivity, generically denoted by X, were represented well by the simple formula X/X ₀ = 1/[1 ? (ε/ε₁)]^m within the equilibrium fluid range 0 > ε > 0.493. This formula has two disposable parameters, ε and m, and X ₀ is the value of the property X in the limit of zero density. This expression has the same form as the Krieger-Dougherty formula (Kreiger, I. M., 1972, Adv. Colloid. Interface Sci., 3, 111) which is used widely in the colloid literature to represent the packing fraction dependence of the Newtonian shear viscosity of monodisperse colloidal near-hard spheres. Of course, in the present case, X _o was the dilute gas transport coefficient of the pure liquid rather than the solvent viscosity. It was not possible to fit the transport coefficient normalized by their Enskog values with such a simple expression because these ratios are typically of order unity until quite high packing fractions and then diverge rapidly at higher values over a relatively narrow density range. At the maximum equilibrium fluid packing fraction ε = 0.494 for both the hard sphere fluid and the corresponding colloidal case a very similar value was found for η_s/η_o ?30–40, suggesting that the ‘crowding’ effects and their consequences for the dynamics in this region of the phase diagram in the two types of liquid have much in common. For the hard sphere by MD, D_o/D ～ 11 at the same packing fraction, possibly indicating the contribution from ‘hydrodynamic enhancement’ of this transport coefficient, which is largely absent for the shear viscosity. Interestingly the comparable ratio for hard sphere colloids is the same.     

Shear-induced configurations of confined colloidal suspensions

We show that geometric confinement dramatically affects the shear-induced configurations of dense monodisperse colloidal suspensions; a new structure emerges, where layers of particles buckle to stack in a more efficient packing. The volume fraction in the shear zone is controlled by a balance between the viscous stresses and the osmotic pressure of a contacting reservoir of unsheared particles. We present a model that accounts for our observations and helps elucidate the complex interplay between particle packing and shear stress for confined suspensions.     

Shear viscosity for inelastic hard spheres

The hydrodynamic equations of the Enskog theory for inelastic hard spheres is considered as a model for rapid flow granular fluids at finite densities. A detailed analysis of the shear viscosity of the granular fluid has been done using homogenous cooling state (HCS) and uniform shear flow (USF) models. It is found that shear viscosity is sensitive to the coefficient of restitution α and pair correlation function at contact. The collisional part of the Newtonian shear viscosity is found to be dominant than its kinetic part.     

Soft Dynamics simulation. 2. Elastic spheres undergoing a T<Subscript>1</Subscript> process in a viscous fluid

Robust empirical constitutive laws for granular materials in air or in a viscous fluid have been expressed in terms of timescales based on the dynamics of a single particle. However, some behaviours such as viscosity bifurcation or shear localization, observed also in foams, emulsions, and block copolymer cubic phases, seem to involve other micro-timescales which may be related to the dynamics of local particle reorganizations. In the present work, we consider a T₁ process as an example of a rearrangement. Using the Soft Dynamics simulation method introduced in the first paper of this series, we describe theoretically and numerically the motion of four elastic spheres in a viscous fluid. Hydrodynamic interactions are described at the level of lubrication (Poiseuille squeezing and Couette shear flow) and the elastic deflection of the particle surface is modeled as Hertzian. The duration of the simulated T₁ process can vary substantially as a consequence of minute changes in the initial separations, consistently with predictions. For the first time, a collective behaviour is thus found to depend on a parameter other than the typical volume fraction of particles.     

Shear thickening and migration in granular suspensions

We study the emergence of shear thickening in dense suspensions of non-Brownian particles. We combine local velocity and concentration measurements using magnetic resonance imaging with macroscopic rheometry experiments. In steady state, we observe that the material is heterogeneous, and we find that the local rheology presents a continuous transition at low shear rate from a viscous to a shear thickening, Bagnoldian, behavior with shear stresses proportional to the shear rate squared, as predicted by a scaling analysis. We show that the heterogeneity results from an unexpectedly fast migration of grains, which we attribute to the emergence of the Bagnoldian rheology. The migration process is observed to be accompanied by macroscopic transient discontinuous shear thickening, which is consequently not an intrinsic property of granular suspensions.     

Jamming: A simple introduction

Amorphous materials as diverse as foams, emulsions, colloidal suspensions and granular media can jam into a rigid, disordered state where they withstand finite shear stresses before yielding. Here we give a simple introduction to the surprising physics displayed by a very simple model system for the jamming transition: frictionless, soft spheres at zero temperature and zero shear that act through purely repulsive contact forces. This system starts to become rigid, i.e. goes through the jamming transition, whenever the confining pressure becomes positive. We highlight some of the remarkable geometrical features of the zero pressure jamming point and discuss the peculiar mechanical properties of these systems for small pressures.     

Jamming of packings of frictionless particles with and without shear

By minimizing the enthalpy of packings of frictionless particles, we obtain jammed solids at desired pressures and hence investigate the jamming transition with and without shear. Typical scaling relations of the jamming transition are recovered in both cases. In contrast to systems without shear, shear-driven jamming transition occurs at a higher packing fraction and the jammed solids are more rigid with an anisotropic force network. Furthermore, by introducing the macrofriction coefficient, we propose an explanation of the packing fraction gap between sheared and non-sheared systems at fixed pressure.     

Viscosity and dispersion state of magnetic suspensions

We investigate the viscosity behavior of a magnetic suspension in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a mixture of polyacrylic liquids. The size of magnetite particles is nearly 300 nm and the volume fraction of the magnetic particles is in the range of 0.003-0.03. The particle concentration dependence of the suspension viscosity yields the intrinsic viscosity [η], which varies from 25.6 at 5 s⁻¹ to 5.1 at 400 s⁻¹. The yield stress and the infinite shear viscosity of the suspension increase non-linearly as the particle concentration ? increases. We examine the effect of process conditions such as milling time and amount of dispersant on the viscosity behavior of the suspension. As milling time elapses, yield stress and low shear viscosity decrease and then reach constant values while the infinite shear viscosity remains constant. When oleic acid is added as a dispersant, the yield stress and low shear viscosity of the suspension show minimum values as the amount of oleic acid increases. These results agree with experimental results of sedimentation tests, which enable us to estimate the aggregate size of magnetic suspension. The yield stress and the low shear viscosity of the magnetic suspension are found to be useful in evaluating the dispersion state of the magnetic suspension.     

Dilatant flow of concentrated suspensions of rough particles

The flow anisotropy of a concentrated colloidal suspension at the jamming transition is studied. It is shown that the use of rough spherical particles reduces the hydrodynamic lubrication forces between adjacent colloids and makes possible the study of the stress tensor anisotropy. At low shear rates, the suspension exerts an attractive force between two opposite surfaces, whereas at higher shear rates it becomes dilatant. Direct confocal microscopy observation of the particles organization reveal that crystallites form at high shear rate.     

The influence of surface forces on shear-induced tracer diffusion in mono and bidisperse suspensions

The shear-induced self-diffusivity of tracer particles of radius a _t = λa in a suspension of particles having a radius, a , is calculated by Stokesian dynamics for different values of the size ratio, λ , both in 2 and 3 dimensions in the binary-collision regime. The self-diffusion is found to decrease strongly when the size ratio becomes quite different from unity. On the other hand, for the same average distance of contact between two spheres, the presence of a soft force always increases greatly the diffusion compared to the effect of a hard shell which is used to model the roughness. This is particularly true for tracer particles smaller than the bath particles, where the shear-induced diffusion can be increased by many order of magnitudes in the presence of a soft force. For suspensions of monodisperse particles we show that, for low volume fraction, the diffusion coefficient is much smaller than the one predicted by the binary collision model, due to the existence of a layered structure. On the contrary at higher volume fraction, many-body collisions strongly enhance the diffusion and it appears that the value of the diffusion is quite sensitive to the presence of clusters of particles which are themselves determined by the range of interparticle forces.     

Jamming and crystallization in athermal polymer packings

Dense packings of chains of hard spheres possess characteristic features that do not have a counterpart in corresponding packings of monomeric spheres especially near the maximally random jammed (MRJ) state. From the modelling perspective the additional requirement that spheres keep their connectivity while maximizing the occupied volume fraction imposes severe constraints on generation algorithms of dense chain configurations. The extremely sluggish dynamics imposed by the uncrossability of chains precludes the use of deterministic or stochastic dynamics to generate all but dilute polymer packings. As a viable alternative, especially tailored chain-connectivity-altering Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms have been developed that bypass this kinetic hindrance and have actually been able to produce packings of hard-sphere chains in a volume fraction range spanning from infinite dilution up to the MRJ state. Such very dense athermal polymer packings share a number of structural features with packings of monomeric hard spheres, but also display unique characteristics due to the constraints imposed by connectivity. We give an overview of the most relevant results of our recent modeling work on packings of freely-jointed chains of tangent hard spheres about the MRJ state, local structure, chain dimensions and their scaling with density, topological constraints in the form of entanglements and knots, contact network at jamming, and entropically driven crystallization.     

NMR velocimetry studies of the steady-shear rheology of a concentrated hard-sphere colloidal system

NMR velocimetry has been used to observe the steady-shear rheological behaviour of a concentrated suspension of hard-sphere like 370 nm diameter PMMA core-shell latex particles at the volume fraction Φ = 0.46, the liquid core of the spheres rendering possible NMR observation of the particles themselves. Rheological measurements in a cone-and-plate geometry indicate that when aged (i.e. left at rest for two weeks), the material exhibits yield stress behaviour at very low shear rates. For shear rates greater than 1 s ^{- 1} a transition to liquid-like behaviour was observed, leading to a rejuvenated fluid state which exhibits shear-thinning behaviour over a wide range of shear rates. A similar yield stress behaviour was reflected in NMR velocimetry measurements in a Couette geometry, where the solid-to liquid transition could be clearly observed. Under steady-state flow, the fluid state inside the radius at which yield stress was observed, exhibited shear-thinning behaviour with a power law exponent n slowly approaching unity with increasing shear rate. This behaviour has some similarities with a model of Derec et al. in which aging and rejuvenation effects compete. Substantial wall slip was observed both at the inner and at the outer wall, an effect which disappeared as the shear rate was increased. No radial particle migration from the high-shear region at the inner wall was observed.     

Shear viscosity of pseudo hard-spheres

We present molecular dynamics simulations of pseudo hard sphere fluid (generalized WCA potential with exponents (50, 49) proposed by Jover et al. [J. Chem. Phys 137, (2012)] using GROMACS package. The equation of state and radial distribution functions at contact are obtained from simulations and compared to the available theory of true hard spheres (HS) and available data on pseudo hard spheres. The comparison shows agreements with data by Jover et al. and the Carnahan–Starling equation of HS. The shear viscosity is obtained from the simulations and compared to the Enskog expression and previous HS simulations. It is demonstrated that the PHS potential reproduces the HS shear viscosity accurately.     

Zn-Al共析合金的黏滞流变行为

在连续升温条件下，测量了共析Zn-Al合金的应变速率和黏度随温度的变化曲线，在共析转变温区观测到伴随相变过程的黏度极小值，研究了应力对应变速率和升温速率对黏度极小值的影响，发现在相变温区材料的力学行为遵从Newton黏滞流变定律，用相界面的数量和性质解释了相变温区Zn-Al合金的黏滞流变行为．将相变激活能和相界面的流变激活能进行比较，说明界面的流动性是影响相变的主要因素．结合过去在非晶Pd-Cu-Si合金的结构转变过程中观测到的伴随玻璃转变和晶化过程的黏度极小值，说明伴随着结构转变或相变过程，黏度出现极小 关键词：