This review tutorial will cover some of the basic essential components of constitutive models for polymer solutions derived from kinetic theories. Examples include the Hookean and finitely extensible nonlinear elastic dumbbell model and the bead-spring models of Rouse and Zimm. Topics include, hydrodynamic drag and free-drainage, finite extensibility of chains, Convection-diffusion evolution equations for the molecular structure and the polymer contribution to the stress. the coil-stretch transition in extensional flows.

Reading References

Larson, R.G., Constitutive Equations for Polymer Melts and Solutions, Series in Chemical Engineering, Butterworths, Boston, 1988.
Sections 1.1-1.4,
Sections 2.1-2.3,2.6,2.7
Sections 8.1-8.3

Further Advanced Reading

Chapter 4, Doi, M. and Edwards, S.F., The Theory of Polymer Dynamics, OUP,
Oxford, 1986.

Additional Reading for Research Updates

Bird, R.B. and Wiest, J.M., Constitutive Equations for Polymeric Liquids, Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 27, (1995), 169-193.

Return to Workshop Main page