MODELING OF FLEXIBLE FIBER MOTION AND ORIENTATION IN SIMPLE SHEAR FLOW: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ROD-CHAIN MODEL AND JEFFERY'S EQUATION

摘要

This paper compares results from the the rod-chain model with those from results based on Jeffery's equation. A concept of critical buckle aspect ratio is employed to define the rigidity or flexibility of a fiber, above which point a fiber is flexible enough to be bent and twisted. When a fiber has an aspect ratio less than the critical buckle aspect ratio, fiber motion predicted by the rod-chain model corresponds perfectly with that of Jeffery's equation. The trajectories of a single rigid fiber with different initial orientations are shown by the rod-chain model, which are in line with what Jeffery's equation predicts. Results are also shown for the configuration of a single flexible fiber at various times under a pure shearing flow. The "blind area" of the' rod-chain model is discussed.