General rigid bead-rod theory for steady-shear flow

Abstract

General rigid bead-rod theory yields uniquely the relation between macromolecular architecture and complex viscosity. For this, it relies on the analytical solution of the general diffusion equation for small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow of Bird et al. [Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids, 2nd ed. (Wiley, New York, 1987), Vols. 1–2]. Unfortunately, this general diffusion equation has yet to be solved for any other flow field. In this paper, we do so for steady-shear material functions, namely, viscosity and first normal stress coefficient. We, thus, explain the non-Newtonian behaviors of macromolecular suspensions of any axisymmetric design in steady-shear flow.