Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (LAOS) is used as a tool to probe the nonlinear rheological response of a model elasto-viscoplastic material (a Carbopol microgel). In contrast to most recent studies, these large amplitude measurements are carried out in a stress-controlled manner. We outline a descriptive framework of characterization measures for nonlinear rheology under stress-controlled LAOS, and this is contrasted experimentally to the strain-controlled framework that is more commonly used. We show that this stress-controlled methodology allows for a physically intuitive interpretation of the yielding behavior of elasto-viscoplastic materials. The insight gained into the material behavior through these nonlinear measures is then used to develop two constitutive models that prescribe the rheological response of the Carbopol microgel. We show that these two successively more sophisticated constitutive models, which are based on the idea of strain decomposition, capture in a compact manner the important features of the nonlinear rheology of the microgel. The second constitutive model, which incorporates the concept of kinematic hardening, embodies all of the the essential behaviors exhibited by Carbopol. These include elasto-viscoplastic creep and time-dependent viscosity plateaus below a critical stress, a viscosity bifurcation at the critical stress, and Herschel-Bulkley flow behavior at large stresses.

Guided by a series of discriminating rheometric tests, we develop a new constitutive model that can quantitatively predict the key rheological features of waxy crude oils. We first develop a series of model crude oils, which are characterized by a complex thixotropic and yielding behavior that strongly depends on the shear history of the sample. We then outline the development of an appropriate preparation protocol for carrying out rheological measurements, to ensure consistent and reproducible initial conditions. We use RheoPIV measurements of the local kinematics within the fluid under imposed deformations in order to validate the selection of a particular protocol. Velocimetric measurements are also used to document the presence of material instabilities within the model crude oil under conditions of imposed steady shearing. These instabilities are a result of the underlying non-monotonic steady flow curve of the material. Three distinct deformation histories are then used to probe the material's constitutive response. These deformations are steady shear, transient response to startup of steady shear with different aging times, and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). The material response to these three different flows is used to motivate the development of an appropriate constitutive model. This model (termed the IKH model) is based on a framework adopted from plasticity theory and implements an additive strain decomposition into characteristic reversible (elastic) and irreversible (plastic) contributions, coupled with the physical processes of isotropic and kinematic hardening. Comparisons of experimental to simulated response for all three flows show good quantitative agreement, validating the chosen approach for developing constitutive models for this class of materials.

Waxes are a commonly encountered precipitate that can result in gelation of crude oils and cessation of flow in pipelines. In this work we develop a model wax-oil system that exhibits rheological behavior similar to waxy crude oils encountered in production scenarios. To study the consequences of gelation on the rheology of the model system we perform simultaneous measurements of the bulk flow behavior using rheometry and of the local shearing deformation using Particle Image Velocimetry. The bulk rheological measurements are correlated to deviations from the linear velocity profile anticipated for a homogenous sample undergoing simple shear-this provides new insights into the structural and rheological evolution of these wax-oil systems under representative shearing conditions. The restart of flow and breakdown of the gelled wax-oil structure is observed under two scenarios-a constant applied stress, and a constant applied strain rate. In addition, the effect of varying surface roughness on flow restart is investigated by comparing the temporal evolution

SynopsisUsing self-designed particle visualization instrumentation, startup shear and step strain tests were conducted under a series of systematically varied rheological and geometrical conditions, and the velocity profiles of three different well-entangled polybutadiene/oligomer solutions were obtained. For startup shear tests, in the regime of entanglement densities up to 89 and Weissenberg numbers up to 18.6, we generally observe either wall slip and a linear velocity/strain profile or simply the linear profile with no wall slip unless a massive edge fracture or instability has occurred in the sample. Meanwhile, step strain tests were conducted under similar and higher step Weissenberg numbers, and little motion was observed upon cessation. These results lead us to a conclusion that there is no compelling evidence of shear banding or non-quiescent relaxation in the range of entanglement density and Wi investigated; we interpret the results to imply that any observed banding probably correlates with edge effects, and these probably are also present in the work of the S. Q. Wang group, and they lead to shear banding.

We explore the behavior of a wormlike micellar solution under both steady and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) in a cone-plate geometry through simultaneous bulk rheometry and localized velocimetric measurements. First, particle image velocimetry is used to show that the shear banded profiles observed in steady shear are in qualitative agreement with previous results for flow in the cone-plate geometry. Then under LAOS, we observe the onset of shear-banded flow in the fluid as it is progressively deformed into the non-linear regime -this onset closely coincides with the appearance of higher harmonics in the periodic stress signal measured by the rheometer. These harmonics are quantified using the higher order elastic and viscous Chebyshev coefficients e n and v n , which are shown to grow as the banding behavior becomes more pronounced. The high resolution of the velocimetric imaging system enables spatiotemporal variations in the structure of the banded flow to be observed in great detail. Specifically, we observe that at large strain amplitudes (γ 0 ≥ 1) the fluid exhibits a 3-banded velocity profile with a high shear rate band located in-between two lower shear rate bands adjacent to each wall. This band persists over the full cycle of the oscillation, resulting in no phase lag being observed between the appearance of the band and the driving strain amplitude. In addition to the kinematic measurements of shear banding, the methods used to prevent wall slip and edge irregularities are discussed in detail, and these methods are shown to have a measurable effect on the stability boundaries of the shear banded flow.