Numerical simulation of the rheological properties of granular composites by using a structural approach

Composites with an elastomeric matrix containing rigid particles of diameter 10–1000 μm are studied. One of possible mechanisms of the rheological behavior of such filled systems, related to the origination and growth of vacuoles near the rigid inclusions in a viscous matrix, is considered. For simulating the mechanism of formation of rheological properties of the filled elastomers, we use a structural cell in the form of an elastomeric cylinder, whose height and diameter are equal in magnitude, with a rigid spherical inclusion at its center. Deformation of the cells is examined with the observance of boundary conditions providing the preservation of their close packing. The inclusion is assumed to be rigid, and the matrix properties are described by equations of the linear hereditary viscoelasticity theory. The formation of vacuoles is described by using the approach suggesting that an initial debonding begins to propagate when the energy accumulated in the extended matrix reaches a value sufficient to create a new interface. The heterogeneity of the composite is simulated by taking into account the variability of the local filler concentration. Creep curves obtained for composite cells with different content of the solid phase are presented. Comparisons between the numerical and experimental results show a satisfactory agreement. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 895–906, November–December, 2008.     

Human Head-Neck system: The effect of viscoelastic neck on the eigenfrequency spectrum

Summary The present study is concerned with determining the dynamic characteristics of the human head-neck system which is described as a fluid-filled spherical cavity supported by a viscoelastic neck reacting in three dimensions. The material of the skull is assumed to be a homogeneous, isotropic, elastic material, and that of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid as an inviscid irrotational fluid. The neck is approximated by a three-element viscoelastic model, the constants of which are computed by using experimental data. The obtained results show that the viscoelastic properties of the neck affect only the first two eigenfrequencies and the corresponding damping coefficients, while the remaining spectrum remains unchanged. Received 18 December 1997; accepted for publication 23 April 1998     

Shear viscosity of polymer and surfactant monolayers

The surface shear viscosity of monolayers formed at the surface of water by adsorbed polyethyl- eneoxyde and by stearic acid is measured as a function of the surface pressure of the monolayer using a new surface viscometer. The principle of the viscometer is the measurement of the drag force on a circular disk undergoing a uniform translation at the water surface: a hydrodynamic model based on the lubrication approximation allows a calculation of the surface viscosities from the absolute measurement of the drag forces. Received: 26 August 1999     

Physicomechanical studies on the langmuir‐blodgett films of polythiophene containing mesogenic side chains

Liquid crystalline materials display unique properties, which can be exploited in various optoelectronic device applications. The Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) film characteristics of polythiophene model compounds containing phenyl rings linked with azomethine, ester, and alkoxy functional groups poly‐4‐{[(E)‐thiophen‐3‐ylmethylidene]amino}phenyl 4‐alkyloxybenzoate (PTAPAB series) and poly‐4‐alkyloxy phenyl 4‐{[(E)‐thiophen‐3‐ylmethylidene]amino}benzoate (PAPTAB Series) were explored in this study. The AM1 optimized geometries of the aforementioned compounds showed that the films have different type of orientation in space because of the change in the linking functional group. The LB film characteristics were studied by applying the concepts of the failure mechanism in tensile failure. The compression‐expansion hysteresis cycle of the LB films at predetermined area per repeat unit was used to study the viscous, elastic, and plastic nature of the films. The results showed that in PAPTAB series compounds, the LB films were more flexible and took less surface energy than its PTAPAB series homologues, which formed into LB films of rigid nature. The LB films of PAPTAB series compounds were of more viscoplastic in nature. The studies suggested that PAPTAB series structures exhibited good thin film forming nature than its PTAPAB series homologues. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 173–182, 2009     

Simultaneous measurement of viscoelastic changes and cell opening during processing of flexible polyurethane foam

A parallel-plate rheomete was constructed and used to study the development of dynamic shear modulus and cell opening under forced adiabatic conditions for a series of flexible slabstock polyurethane foams. Typical industrial formulations were used. The plates were heated to follow the adiabatic temperature profile of a real foam bun during foaming. The rheometer overcomes difficulties encountered in other methods such as heat loss and bubble damage caused by the probe.A four-stage modulus development profile was observed: initial bubble growth, bubble network, polymer stiffening and final curing. Chemical structure development was also studied under forced adiabatic conditions, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Polymer stiffening coincided with bidentate (hydrogen-bonded) urea formation.The normal force exerted by the expanding foam on the plates was found to be a function of the rate of foam expansion and the foam modulus. A sudden drop in the normal force typically coincides with the visually observed blow-off in the reacting foam bun, thus the normal force profile is a new and accurate indicator of cell opening. The normal force profile clearly shows that cell opening occurs just after the onset of polymer stiffening, thus illustrating the role of polymer rheology in the cell opening mechanism.Dedicated to the memory of Professor Tasos C. PapanastasiouPortions presented at the SPI Polyurethanes Technical/Marketing Conference, October 9–12, 1994, Boston, massachusetts, USA (Best paper award) and at the XIIth International Congress on Rheology, August 18–23, 1996, Québec City, Québec, Canada.     

一维非线性黏弹体和黏塑性体中的最优应变路径

得出了一维非线性黏弹体和黏塑性体中最优应变路径方程，并揭示了它们的某些特性，如：（１）当非线性黏弹本构方程中的黏性部分与应变的关系具有上凸形式时，相应的最优应变路径具有下凸性质；（２）对于过应力和Ｂｏｄｎｅｒ－Ｐａｒｔｏｎ黏塑性体，它们的最优应变路径是塑性应变为线性形式，即塑性应变率为常数，而弹－黏塑性体的最优应变路径则不同。     

多孔硅橡胶有限变形的粘弹性行为

针对孔隙度较大（孔隙度大于50％）的硅橡胶材料在有限变形时的粘弹性行为，从建立描述材料粘弹性特征的松驰函数和变形特征的应变能函数出发，提出了适合多孔隙、可压硅橡胶材料的非线性粘弹性力学行为的本构关系，松驰函数和应变能函数可解耦为等容和体积变形两部分，并引入了拟时间的概念来反映变形对材料特征时间的影响，利用硅橡胶材料的单轴压缩松驰实验与材料模型进行了对比，讨论了多孔硅橡胶的等容变形和体积变形对应力松驰的影响。     

Dispersion Stability and Particle Characterization by Sedimentation Kinetics in a Centrifugal Field

ABSTRACT

The analysis of sedimentation or flotation (creaming) by detecting the transmission profile over the entire sample height in an analytical centrifuge (using a Stability Analyzer) is described and illustrated for a diverse range of practical dispersions and emulsions. It is also illustrated how to use extrapolated results to estimate dispersion shelf life stability for samples in a gravitational field. Formulation optimization, such as choosing appropriate surfactant levels, is also shown to be a practical application of such methods.     

Nanoparticles as macromolecules

A review of recent trends in the dispersion, purification, and assembly of colloidal nanoparticles highlights a number of growing analogies with ideas borrowed from polymer science. Beyond the similar scales of size, several key concepts lying at the foundation of polymer physics—such as polydispersity, fractionation, phase ordering, and viscoelasticity—are taking on new and unique significance in the contemporary realm of nanotechnology. Leveraging “soft matter” at the nanoscale to simplify materials processing and improve material performance is becoming a reality, with potentially profound implications for a number of emerging technologies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1195–1208     

双向粘弹性节理岩体时域等效分析

以双向粘弹性节理岩体为研究对象,基于一种简单等效假定和自适应算法,并结合有限元方法,得到递推格式的等效本构模型和等效粘弹性场计算模型.通过算例,将等效解与基于ANSYS的非均质解进行比较.从计算精度和效率平衡的角度而言,等效模型的结果是令人满意的.