Constitutive equations for a polymer fluid based on the concept of non-affine networks

TL;DR

This paper develops a thermodynamics-based constitutive model for polymer fluids as non-affine networks, accurately predicting stress behaviors and viscosities across different flow conditions and molecular weights.

Contribution

It introduces a novel constitutive model for polymer fluids considering non-affine network sliding, validated against experimental data for various polymers and flow types.

Findings

Model accurately predicts stress overshoot in start-up shear tests.

Parameters vary consistently with strain rate and molecular weight.

Good agreement with experimental data on polystyrene solutions and polyethylene melt.

Abstract

Constitutive equations are developed for a polymer fluid, which is treated as a permanent network of strands bridged by junctions. The junctions are assumed to slide with respect to their reference positions under loading. Governing equations are derived by using the laws of thermodynamics under the assumption that the vorticity tensor for the flow of junctions is proportional to that for macro-deformation. Explicit expressions are developed for the steady elongational viscosity, as well as for the steady shear viscosity and normal stress functions. To verify the constitutive relations, three sets of experimental data are approximated on polystyrene solutions with various molecular weights. It is demonstrated that the model can correctly describe stress overshoot for the shear stress and first normal stress difference in start-up tests with various strain rates. Adjustable parameters in the governing equations change consistently with the strain rate, molecular weight and concentration of entanglements. To validate the constitutive equations, observations on low-density polyethylene melt in uniaxial extensional flow are compared with the results of numerical analysis when the material constants are found by matching experimental data in shear tests.