Dynamics and electro-rheology of sheared immiscible fluid mixtures

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electric fields influence the flow behavior of immiscible fluid mixtures with dielectric differences, proposing new constitutive equations and highlighting unique stress responses under certain conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a set of electro-rheological constitutive equations that incorporate electric field effects into the dynamics of immiscible fluid mixtures under flow.

Findings

Proposes constitutive equations valid when flow dominates electric effects.

Identifies a unique dynamical stress response linked to field coupling.

Validates the model through comparison with recent experiments.

Abstract

We analyze the electro-rheological effect in immiscible fluid mixtures with dielectric mismatch. By taking the electric field effect into account, which couples to the dynamics of domain morphology under flow, we propose a set of electro-rheological constitutive equations valid under the condition where the relative magnitude of the flow field is stronger than that of the electric field. Through the comparison with recent experiment, we point out a unique dynamical stress response inherent in situations, where the cross-coupling between different fields is essential.