Rheology of sheared flexible fiber suspensions via fiber-level simulations

Abstract

We employ a particle-level simulation technique to investigate the rheology of non-Brownian, flexible fiber suspensions in simple shear flow. The model incorporates a variety of realistic features including fiber flexibility, fiber deformation, and frictional contacts. The viscosity of fiber suspensions is strongly influenced by the fiber equilibrium shape, interfiber friction, and fiber stiffness. The viscosity of the suspension increases as the fiber curvature, the coefficient of friction, or the fiber stiffness is increased. The yield stress of fiber suspensions scales with the volume fraction in a manner similar to that observed experimentally. Fiber suspensions that flocculate exhibit a shear thinning regime that extends to shear rates lower than those observed for homogeneous suspensions.