Re-entrant corner behavior of the PTT fluid

We integrate the constitutive equation of the Phan-Thien-Tanner (PTT) fluid near a re-entrant 270° corner. The velocity field is assumed given (Newtonian). In contrast to the case of the upper convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid, we find the following features: (1) The elastic stresses near the corner are less singular than Newtonian stresses; (2) Boundary layers near the walls are much less sharp than for the UCM fluid; (3) There are no spurious stresses due to downstream instabilities.     

Numerical simulation studies of the planar entry flow of polymer melts

This paper is concerned with the numerical simulation of planar entry flow using a penalty finite element method and the comparison of predictions with flow visualization and birefringence data for two polymer melts. The Phan-Thien Tanner (PTT) model was fit to the steady state shear and extensional viscosity data and the transient extensional viscosity data of both polystyrene and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) melts to obtain the parameters λ, ξ, and ϵ in this model. Agreement was found between the flow visualization and birefringence data and the predictions of streamlines and stress. With some modification of the constitutive equation, the vortex growth and intensity observed for LDPE could be predicted by the use of the PTT model and the material parameters fit to the rheological properties. Likewise, the flow behavior of polystyrene, in which only small vortices with no growth were observed, was also predicted. Furthermore, it was found that the size and intensity of the vortex could be affected by the parameter ϵ in the PTT model which controls the predictions of the extensional viscosity. Based on these results it seems that accurate simulation of entry flow behavior requires the use of a constitutive equation which is capable of giving realistic preciction's of a fluid's extentional flow properties.     

Practical comparison of differential viscoelastic constitutive equations in finite element analysis of planar 4:1 contraction flow

Finite element modeling of planar 4:1 contraction flow (isothermal incompressible and creeping) around a sharp entrance corner is performed for favored differential constitutive equations such as the Maxwell, Leonov, Giesekus, FENE-P, Larson, White-Metzner models and the Phan Thien-Tanner model of exponential and linear types. We have implemented the discrete elastic viscous stress splitting and streamline upwinding algorithms in the basic computational scheme in order to augment stability at high flow rate. For each constitutive model, we have obtained the upper limit of the Deborah number under which numerical convergence is guaranteed. All the computational results are analyzed according to consequences of mathematical analyses for constitutive equations from the viewpoint of stability. It is verified that in general the constitutive equations proven globally stable yield convergent numerical solutions for higher Deborah number flows. Therefore one can get solutions for relatively high Deborah number flows when the Leonov, the Phan Thien-Tanner, or the Giesekus constitutive equation is employed as the viscoelastic field equation. The close relationship of numerical convergence with mathematical stability of the model equations is also clearly demonstrated.     

Constitutive equation with fractional derivatives for the generalized UCM model

A fundamental problem on the constitutive equation with fractional derivatives for the generalized upper convected Maxwell model (UCM) is studied. The existing investigations on the constitutive equation are reviewed and their limitations or deficiencies are highlighted. By utilizing the convected coordinates approach, a mathematically rigorous constitutive equation with fractional derivatives for the generalized UCM model is proposed, which has an explicit expression for the stress tensor. This model can be reduced to the linear generalized Maxwell model with fractional derivatives, the UCM model and some other existing models. In addition, the rheological properties of this proposed model in the start-up of simple shear and elongation flows are investigated. It is shown that this generalized UCM model can describe the various stress evolution processes and the strain hardening effect of the viscoelastic fluids.     

A marker-and-cell approach to viscoelastic free surface flows using the PTT model

This work is concerned with the development of a numerical method capable of simulating two-dimensional viscoelastic free surface flows governed by the non-linear constitutive equation PTT (Phan-Thien–Tanner). In particular, we are interested in flows possessing moving free surfaces. The fluid is modelled by a marker-and-cell type method and employs an accurate representation of the fluid surface. Boundary conditions are described in detail and the full free surface stress conditions are considered. The PTT equation is solved by a high order method which requires the calculation of the extra-stress tensor on the mesh contour. The equations describing the numerical technique are solved by the finite difference method on a staggered grid. In order to validate the numerical method fully developed flow in a two-dimensional channel was simulated and the numerical solutions were compared with known analytic solutions. Convergence results were obtained throughout by using mesh refinement. To demonstrate that complex free surface flows using the PTT model can be computed, extrudate swell and a jet flowing onto a rigid plate were simulated.     

Group theoretical analysis and similarity solutions for stress boundary layers in viscoelastic flows

Lie group theory is used to obtain point symmetries of the boundary layer equations derived in the literature for the high Weissenberg number flow of upper convected Maxwell (UCM) and Phan-Tien-Tanner (PTT) type of viscoelastic fluids. The equations are reduced to ordinary differential equation systems with the use of scaling and spiral transformation groups. Similarity solutions are obtained and discussed for different cases such as flow around corners, flow over moving and stretching walls, and exponential shear flows.     

A numerical study of constitutive models endowed with Pom-Pom molecular attributes

The branched polymer melts are modeled respectively in this investigation by the existing XPP and PTT–XPP models, along with the proposed S-MDCPP (Single/Simplified Modified Double Convected Pom-Pom) model developed on the basis of the existing MDCPP model. A pressure stabilized mass equation is formulated with the finite increment calculus (FIC) process to restrain and further eliminate spurious oscillations of pressure field due to the incompressibility of fluids. The discrete elastic viscous stress splitting (DEVSS) technique is employed, in order to retain an elliptic contribution in the weak form of the momentum equation. An inconsistent streamline-upwind (SU) method is applied to spatially discretize the constitutive equations. The mass, momentum conservation and constitutive equations are discretized and solved by the iterative stabilized fractional step algorithm along with the Crank–Nicolson implicit difference scheme. Thus the finite elements with equal low-order interpolation approximations for velocity–pressure–stress variables can be devised to numerically simulate the viscoelastic contraction flows for branched LDPE melts. The influences of the three viscoelastic constitutive models and the branched arms at the end of the Pom-Pom molecule on the rheological behaviors occurring in this complex flow are discussed. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed S-MDCPP model is capable of reproducing some properties similar to those predicted by the XPP model in high shear flow and, on the other hand, reproducing some properties similar to those predicted by the PTT–XPP model in high elongational flow. Furthermore, the proposed S-MDCPP model is capable of well identifying the macromolecule topological structures of branched polymer melts.     

Numerical simulations of non-isothermal three-dimensional flows in an extruder by a finite-volume method

This study considers numerical applications of a finite-volume method to steady non-isothermal flows in geometries close to a single-screw extruder. Two geometrical configurations of the channel, with gap and zero gap, are investigated. The simulations concern incompressible fluids obeying different constitutive equations: Newtonian, generalized Newtonian with shear-thinning properties (Carreau–Yasuda law), and two viscoelastic differential models, the upper convected maxwell (UCM) and the Phan–Thien/Tanner (PTT). The temperature dependence is described by a Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation. For discretizing the equations and unknowns, we use a staggered grid with a QUICK scheme for the convective-type terms and solve the set of governing equations by a decoupled algorithm, stabilized by a pseudo-transient stress term and an elastic viscous stress splitting (EVSS) technique, in the viscoelastic case for the UCM model. The numerical results enable us to state the influence of temperature and rheological properties on the flow characteristics in the geometries investigated and underline the complex behaviour of the materials in such configurations.     

A finite element method for computing the flow of multi-mode viscoelastic fluids: comparison with experiments

The numerical computation of viscoelastic fluid flows with differential constitutive equations presents various difficulties. The first one lies in the numerical convergence of the complex numerical scheme solving the non-linear set of equations. Due to the hybrid type of these equations (elliptic and hyperbolic), geometrical singularities such as reentrant corner or die induce stress singularities and hence numerical problems. Another difficulty is the choice of an appropriate constitutive equation and the determination of rheological constants. In this paper, a quasi-Newton method is developed for a fluid obeying a multi-mode Phan-Thien and Tanner constitutive equation. A confined convergent geometry followed by the extrudate swell has been considered. Numerical results obtained for two-dimensional or axisymmetric flows are compared to experimental results (birefringence patterns or extrudate swell) for a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a low density polyethylene (LDPE).     

Observability of viscoelastic fluids

We apply the observability rank condition to study the observability of various viscoelastic fluids under imposed shear or extensional flows. In this paper the observability means the ability of determining the viscoelastic stress from the time history of the observations of the first normal stress difference. We consider four viscoelastic models: the upper convected Maxwell (UCM) model, the Phan–Thien–Tanner (PTT) model, the Johnson–Segalman (JS) model and the Giesekus model. Our study reveals that all of the four models have observability for all stress components almost everywhere under shear flow whereas under extensional flow most of the models have no observability for the shear stress component. More specifically, for UCM and JS models under imposed shear flow, the observations of the first normal stress difference allow the reconstruction of all components of viscoelastic stress. For UCM and JS models under extensional flow, the two normal stress components can be determined from the measurements of the first normal stress difference; the shear stress component does not affect the evolution of the normal stress components and consequently it cannot be extracted from the observations. Under shear flow, the PTT and Giesekus models have observability almost everywhere. That is, all components of the viscoelastic stress can be determined from the observations when the vector formed by the components of viscoelastic stress does not lie on a certain surface. Under extensional flow, the PTT model has observability almost everywhere for normal stress components whereas the Giesekus model has observability almost everywhere for all stress components. We also run simulations using the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) to reconstruct the viscoelastic stress from observations without and with noises. The UKF yields accurate and robust estimates for the viscoelastic stress both in the absence and in the presence of observation noises.     

Simulation of two-dimensional planar flow of viscoelastic fluid

A numerical scheme based on the Finite Element Method has been developed which uses a relaxation factor in the momentum equation with the stresses being evaluated via a streamwise integration procedure. A constitutive equation introduced by Leonov has been used to represent the rheological behavior of the fluid. The convergence of the scheme has been tested on a 2 : 1 abrupt contraction problem by successive mesh refinement for non-dimensional characteristic shear rates, of 5 and 50 for polyisobutylene Vistanex at 27 °C. The recirculation region is shown to increase in size with non-dimensional characteristic shear rate.Theoretical predictions have been compared with the experimental data which include birefringence and pressure loss measurements. In general, the comparisons have been reasonably good and demonstrates the usefulness of the present numerical scheme and the Leonov constitutive equation to describe real polymer flows.     

A new finite element scheme using the Lagrangian framework for simulation of viscoelastic fluid flows

A new numerical scheme for simulation of viscoelastic fluid flows was designed, making use of finite element algorithms generally regarded as advantageous for tackling the problem. This includes the Lagrangian approach for the solution of viscoelastic constitutive equation using the co-deformational frame of reference with a possibility of analytically solving the equation along the particles trajectories, which in turn allowed eluding the solution of any system of linear equations for the stress. Then, the full ellipticity of the momentum conservation equation was utilised thanks to a possibility of accurate determination of the stress tensor independently of the velocity field at the current stage of computation. The needed independent stress was calculated at each time step on the basis of the past deformation history, which in turn was determined on the basis of the past velocity fields, all incorporated into a modified Euler time stepping algorithm. Owing to explicit inclusion of the full viscous term from the viscoelastic model into the momentum conservation equation, no stress splitting was necessary. The trajectory feet tracking was done accurately using a semi-analytic solution of the displacement gradient evolution equation and a weak formulation of the kinematics equation, the latter at the expense of solving an extra symmetric system of linear equations.The error expressed in the form of the Sobolev norms was determined using a comparison with available analytical solution for UCM fluid in the transient regime or numerically obtained steady-state stress values for the PTT fluid in Couette flow. The implementation of the PTT fluid model was done by modifying the relative displacement gradient tensor so that a new convective frame was defined.The stability of the algorithm was assessed using the well-known benchmark problem of a sphere sedimenting in a tube with viscoelastic fluid. The stable numerical results were obtained at high Weissenberg numbers, with the limit of convergence Wi=6.6, exceeding any previously reported values. The robustness of the code was proven by simulation of the Weissenberg effect (the rod-climbing phenomenon) with the use of PTT fluid.     

The interface migration in shear-banded micellar solutions

In this work, we study the diffusion of the interface between bands in wormlike micellar solutions that exhibit shear banding flow regimes, namely, systems undergoing coexistence of states of different shear rates along a constant stress plateau. The migration of the interface between bands possessing different birefringence levels is predicted by the BMP (Bautista-Manero-Puig) model in which a structural parameter (the fluidity) presents two states with differing order separated by an interface. The mechanical potential derived from the constitutive equations and a diffusion term for the structure evolution equation predict various time scales of interface migration at the inception of shear flow and under shear-rate changes along the plateau stress. It is shown that the extremes of the plateau (binodals) correspond to the minima in the mechanical potential as a function of fluidity or shear rate. We also predict the dependence of the diffusive length scale on the applied shear rate.     

Highly elastic solutions for Oldroyd-B and Phan-Thien/Tanner fluids with a finite volume/element method: planar contraction flows

A hybrid finite volume/element method is analysed through the computation of creeping flows of viscoelastic fluids in plane 4:1 sharp and rounded-corner contraction geometries. Simulations are presented for three models: a constant viscosity Oldroyd-B fluid, and Phan-Thien/Tanner (PTT) shear thinning fluids of exponential and linear approximation form. A Taylor–Galerkin/pressure-correction scheme is implemented as the base time-stepping framework. The momentum equations are solved by a finite element method, whilst the constitutive equations are solved by a finite volume approach. Mesh convergence is analysed via refinement around the contraction to capture boundary layers and flow structure. Pressure drop is shown to increase with flow rate for a fixed fluid. For the Oldroyd-B model, singular behaviour is reported in the main stress component as one approaches the corner in the rounded, as with the sharp geometry. Velocity components display an asymptotic trend with a positive slope. Higher values of Weissenberg numbers (We) are reached with these finite volume schemes compared to their finite element counterparts, attributing this to superior accuracy properties.     

Alternative derivation of differential constitutive equations of the Oldroyd-B type

Now that almost 60 years have passed since the pioneering works of J.G. Oldroyd it seems appropriate as an homage to consider here constitutive equations that can be viewed as generalisations of the by now classical Oldroyd-B model. In this short communication we shall address heuristically the theme of differential constitutive models and will provide an alternative way of deriving a “modified FENE” equation (FENE-M) and inter-relating the PTT and FENE-P-like models.     

Uniform flow of viscoelastic fluids past a confined falling cylinder

Uniform steady flow of viscoelastic fluids past a cylinder placed between two moving parallel plates is investigated numerically with a finite-volume method. This configuration is equivalent to the steady settling of a cylinder in a viscoelastic fluid, and here, a 50% blockage ratio is considered. Five constitutive models are employed (UCM, Oldroyd-B, FENE-CR, PTT and Giesekus) to assess the effect of rheological properties on the flow kinematics and wake patterns. Simulations were carried out under creeping flow conditions, using very fine meshes, especially in the wake of the cylinder where large normal stresses are observed at high Deborah numbers. Some of the results are compared with numerical data from the literature, mainly in terms of a drag coefficient, and significant discrepancies are found, especially for the constant-viscosity constitutive models. Accurate solutions could be obtained up to maximum Deborah numbers clearly in excess of those reported in the literature, especially with the PTT and FENE-CR models. The existence or not of a negative wake is identified for each set of model parameters.     

Finite element method for viscoelastic flows based on the discrete adaptive viscoelastic stress splitting and the discontinuous Galerkin method: DAVSS-G/DG

Accurate and robust finite element methods for computing flows with differential constitutive equations require approximation methods that numerically preserve the ellipticity of the saddle point problem formed by the momentum and continuity equations and give numerically stable and accurate solutions to the hyperbolic constitutive equation. We present a new finite element formulation based on the synthesis of three ideas: the discrete adaptive splitting method for preserving the ellipticity of the momentum/continuity pair (the DAVSS formulation), independent interpolation of the components of the velocity gradient tensor (DAVSS-G), and application of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method for solving the constitutive equation. We call the method DAVSS-G/DG. The DAVSS-G/DG method is compared with several other methods for flow past a cylinder in a channel with the Oldroyd-B and Giesekus constitutive models. Results using the Streamline Upwind Petrov–Galerkin method (SUPG) show that introducing the adaptive splitting increases considerably the range of Deborah number (De) for convergence of the calculations over the well established EVSS-G formulation. When both formulations converge, the DAVSS-G and DEVSS-G methods give comparable results. Introducing the DG method for solution of the constitutive equation extends further the region of convergence without sacrificing accuracy. Calculations with the Oldroyd-B model are only limited by approximation of the almost singular gradients of the axial normal stress that develop near the rear stagnation point on the cylinder. These gradients are reduced in calculations with the Giesekus model. Calculations using the Giesekus model with the DAVSS-G/DG method can be continued to extremely large De and converge with mesh refinement.     

A fractional differential constitutive model for dynamic stress intensity factors of an anti-plane crack in viscoelastic materials

Fractional differential constitutive relationships are introduced to depict the history of dynamic stress inten- sity factors （DSIFs） for a semi-infinite crack in infinite viscoelastic material subjected to anti-plane shear impact load. The basic equations which govern the anti-plane deformation behavior are converted to a fractional wave-like equation. By utilizing Laplace and Fourier integral transforms, the fractional wave-like equation is cast into an ordinary differential equation （ODE）. The unknown function in the solution of ODE is obtained by applying Fourier transform directly to the boundary conditions of fractional wave-like equation in Laplace domain instead of solving dual integral equations. Analytical solutions of DSIFs in Laplace domain are derived by Wiener-Hopf technique and the numerical solutions of DSIFs in time domain are obtained by Talbot algorithm. The effects of four parameters α, β, b1, b2 of the fractional dif- ferential constitutive model on DSIFs are discussed. The numerical results show that the present fractional differential constitutive model can well describe the behavior of DSIFs of anti-plane fracture in viscoelastic materials, and the model is also compatible with solutions of DSIFs of anti-plane fracture in elastic materials.     

Stress optical measurement of the third normal stress difference in polymer melts under oscillatory shear

Results are reported for the dynamic moduli,G andG, measured mechanically, and the dynamic third normal stress difference, measured optically, of a series bidisperse linear polymer melts under oscillatory shear. Nearly monodisperse hydrogenated polyisoprenes of molecular weights 53000 and 370000 were used to prepare blends with a volume fraction of long polymer, _L, of 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.50, and 0.75. The results demonstrate the applicability of birefringence measurements to solve the longstanding problem of measuring the third normal stress difference in oscillatory flow. The relationship between the third normal stress difference and the shear stress observed for these entangled polymer melts is in agreement with a widely predicted constitutive relationship: the relationship between the first normal stress difference and the shear stress is that of a simple fluid, and the second normal stress difference is proportional to the first. These results demonstrate the potential use of 1,3-birefringence to measure the third normal stress difference in oscillatory flow. Further, the general constitutive equation supported by the present results may be used to determine the dynamic moduli from the measured third normal stress difference in small amplitude oscillatory shear. Directions for future research, including the use of birefringence measurements to determineN ₂/N ₁ in oscillatory shear, are described.     

基于格子Boltzmann两相模型的粘弹流体挤出胀大分析

挤出胀大的数值模拟是非牛顿流体研究中具有挑战性的问题．本文运用格子Boltzmann方法(LBM)分析Oldroyd-B和多阶松弛谱PTT粘弹流体的挤出胀大现象,采用颜色模型模拟出口处粘弹流体和空气的两相流动,通过重新标色获得两种流体的界面,并最终获得胀大的形状．Navier-Stokes方程和本构方程的求解采用双分布函数模型．将胀大的结果与解析解、实验解和单相自由面LBM结果进行了比较,发现格子Boltzmann两相模型结果与解析解和实验结果相吻合,相比于单相模型,收敛速度更快,解的稳定性更高．研究了流道尺寸对胀大率的影响,并对挤出胀大的内在机理进行了分析．