Timescales in shear banding of wormlike micelles

TL;DR

This paper identifies three distinct timescales in the shear banding dynamics of wormlike micelles, linking them to interface behavior and providing a method to estimate stress diffusion coefficients.

Contribution

It reveals the existence of three specific timescales in shear banding, connecting them to interface dynamics and offering a way to measure stress diffusion.

Findings

Three well-defined timescales in shear banding dynamics

Correlation of timescales with interface behavior

Method to estimate stress diffusion coefficient

Abstract

We show the existence of three well defined time scales in the dynamics of wormlike micelles after a step between two shear rates on the stress plateau. These time scales are compatible with the presence of a structured interface between bands of different viscosities and correspond to the isotropic band destabilization during the stress overshoot, reconstruction of the interface after the overshoot and travel of a fully formed interface. The last stage can be used to estimate a stress diffusion coefficient.