BiconeDrag - A data processing application for the oscillating conical bob interfacial shear rheometer

TL;DR

BiconeDrag is a software tool that processes dynamic interfacial rheology data from oscillating bicone shear rheometers, accurately accounting for flow dynamics to determine interfacial properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel data processing method that numerically solves Navier-Stokes equations and implements an iterative scheme for complex Boussinesq number estimation.

Findings

Accurately computes interfacial dynamic moduli from rheometer data.

Incorporates hydrodynamic flow effects at the interface and subphase.

Provides MATLAB and Python implementations for broader accessibility.

Abstract

BiconeDrag is a software package that allows one to perform a flow field based data processing of dynamic interfacial rheology data pertaining to surfactant laden air-fluid interfaces obtained by means of a rotational bicone shear rheometer. MATLAB and Python versions of the program are provided. The bicone fixture is widely used to transform a conventional bulk rotational rheometer into an interfacial shear rheometer. Typically, such systems are made of a bicone bob, which is mounted on the rheometer rotor, and a cylindrical cup. Usually, the experiment consists of measuring the response of the interface under an oscillatory stress. The program takes the values of the torque/angular displacement amplitude ratio and phase difference to compute the interfacial dynamic moduli (or complex viscosity) by consistently taking into account the hydrodynamic flow both at the interface and the subphase. This is done by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations for the subphase velocity field together with the Boussinesq-Scriven boundary condition at the interface, and no slip boundary conditions elsewhere. Furthermore, the program implements a new iterative scheme devised by solving for the complex Boussinesq number in the rotor's torque balance equation.