| Abstract: | The single-link orientational distribution function and the space-averaged stresses in the fluid are computed for the case of steady shear flow of polymer melts. The computation is achieved with Galerkin's method with spherical harmonics and Euler polynomials as trial functions. The stress components become power functions of shear rate when the latter is large. The single-link orientational distribution function f solves the Fokker-Planck equation subject to a boundary condition for f at the chain ends. A solution is obtained for every shear rate and ratio of the orientational and one-dimensional diffusion coefficient. It is demonstrated that the Fokker-Planck equation with appropriate boundary condition is useful in order to predict the flow-alignment and stresses in good agreement with experimental data as well as with recent results of a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics computer simulation on polymer melts. |
