Numerical modelling of foam Couette flows

A numerical computation based on a tensorial visco-elasto-plastic model based on continuous mechanics is compared to experimental measurements on liquid foams for a bidimensional Couette flow between two glass plates, both in stationary and transient cases. The main features of the model are elasticity up to a plastic yield stress, and viscoelasticity above it. The effect of the friction of the plates is taken into account. The numerical modelling is based on a small set of standard material parameters that are fully characterised. Shear localisation as well as acute transient observations are reproduced and agree with experimental measurements. The plasticity appears to be the fundamental mechanism of the localisation of the flow. Finally, the present approach could be extended from liquid foams to similar materials such as emulsions, colloids or wet granular materials, that exhibit localisation.