Brownian dynamics simulation for suspensions of oblong-particles under shear flow

Computer simulations of the shear flow for the suspensions of oblong-particles were performed using nonequilibrium Brownian Dynamics (BD). The model particle is a rigid body made up of linearly connected spheres with the interparticle potential of a repulsive Lennard-Jones potential. The length-over-width ratios of the oblong-particles used in the present calculations are 5/3 and 3. In the concentrated suspensions high orientation is easily induced by shear at low shear rates. The systems of the oblong-particles exhibit the structural transition that causes the significant change in the rheological properties at high shear rates. Furthermore, the dependence of the length-over-width ratio of the particle is examined. Received: 16 June 1997 Accepted: 3 February 1998