Shear Rate Research Articles

Oxygen uptake rate analysis to evaluate the impact of hydrodynamic stress on the growth of the avian cell line DuckCelt®-T17

Scale-up of bioprocesses involving animal cell culture is hampered by the sensitivity of the cells to hydrodynamic stress, either from agitation or bubble bursting. Here, the hydrodynamic stress experienced by a recent cell line, the DuckCelt®-T17 avian cells, previously used for viral vaccine production, is investigated in shake flasks and in a 3 L bioreactor. Cell stress was assessed by monitoring the dissolved oxygen in the culture medium, which depends on Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR) and Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) during cultivation. Classical parameters such as the maximum growth rate (µmax) and metabolite profiles were also determined. A dynamic model able to predict nutrient consumption, metabolic waste production, viable cell number and OUR was also developed and validated from the data measured in shake flasks. The experiments performed in the stirred tank bioreactor (STBR) show that OUR depended on both the cell growth phase and the stirring conditions. The oxygen consumption of the cells during the exponential growth phase (where there were no nutrient and O2 limitations) was significantly altered at average and maximum shear rates above 70 and 840 s−1, respectively, indicating highly shear-sensitive cells. OUR is a suitable tool to identify the hydrodynamic conditions for robust cell growth. The scale-up criteria to be favored for the DuckCelt®-T17 cell culture in STBRs would be the shear and/or the tip’s speed.

Ultrasound-assisted fabrication of chitosan-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose nanoemulsions loaded with thymol and cinnamaldehyde: Physicochemical properties, stability, and antifungal activity

This study investigated the influence of chitosan (CH) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (H), along with ultrasound power, on the physicochemical properties, antifungal activity, and stability of oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions containing thymol and cinnamaldehyde in a 7:3 (v/v) ratio. Eight O/W formulations were prepared using CH, H, and a 1:1 (v/v) blend of CH and H, both with and without ultrasonication (U). Compared to untreated samples, U-treated nanoemulsions had lower droplet sizes (433–301 nm), polydispersity index (0.42–0.47), and zeta potential (−0.42–0.77 mV). The U treatment decreased L* and b* values, increased a* color attribute values, and increased apparent viscosity (0.26–2.17) at the same shear rate. After 28 days, microbiological testing of nanoemulsions treated with U showed counts below the detection limits (< 2 log CFU mL−1). The U-treated nanoemulsions exhibited stronger antifungal effects against R. stolonifer, with the NE/CH-U and NE/CH-H-U formulations demonstrating the lowest minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations, measured at 0.12 and 0.24 μL/mL, respectively. On day 28, U-treated nanoemulsions demonstrated higher ionic, thermal, and physical stability than untreated samples. These findings suggest that the stability and antifungal efficacy of polysaccharide-based nanoemulsions may be improved by ultrasonic treatment. This study paves the way for innovative, highly stable nanoemulsions.

The effects of MWCNT-STF on the impact resistance of fibre metal laminates

Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) have been widely used in the aerospace and transportation industries, due to their excellent impact and fatigue resistance. However, it is challenging to further improve the impact resistance of FMLs. In this study, shear thickening fluids (STFs) with different ratios of silicon nanoparticles to polyethylene glycol (PEG) were first produced to obtain the STF with optimized performance. Then, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to the STF to produce MWCNT-STF to further improve its shear thickening behaviour. The rheological test results have shown that the MWCNT-STF with the composition ratio of 30 wt% PEG200+0.2 wt% MWCNTs+69.8 wt% SiO2 demonstrates the best shear thickening function, with the peak viscosity being enhanced by 365 % but the critical shear rate reduced by 69 % compared with the original STF. The MWCNT-STF was then impregnated to Kevlar fabric by ultrasonic impregnation process. The experimental results show that MWCNTs contribute the best adhesion to Kevlar fabric when the ratio of MWCNT-STF to alcohol is 1:2, with the optimal add-on ratio as 53 %. The yarn pulling-out tests show that the addition of MWCNTs to STF improves the friction between the fabric yarns, which in turn increases their shear resistance. Then STF and MWCNT-STF Kevlar fabrics were integrated to FML manufacturing. The quasi-static perforation tests indicate that MWCNT-STF helps improve the specific energy absorption of the MWCNT-STF FMLs by up to 16 %, but with limited impact on the peak perforation force. More effectively, the low velocity impact tests show that the 3/2 FMLs made with 1, 2, and 3 layers of MWCNT-STF Kevlar fabric have an enhancement on their peak impact force by 20, 36 and 38 %, while on specific energy absorption by 30, 40 and 42 %, respectively, compared to 3/2 STF FMLs counterparts.

Shear-driven stability of a rigid particle in yield stress fluids

The stability of a rigid particle in yield stress fluids, comprised of soft particle glasses (SPGs), is investigated in shear flow under an applied external force, such as weight, using particle dynamics simulations. Results provide the critical force threshold, in terms of the dynamic yield stress and the flow strength, required to initiate sedimentation of the rigid particle over a wide range of shear rates and volume fractions. The streamlines of the SPGs show local disturbances when the rigid particle settles. The form of these disturbances is consistent with the microdynamics and microstructure response of the neighboring soft particles of the sedimenting rigid particle. Sedimenting particle induces non-affine displacement to the suspensions at low shear rates and high applied forces, while these dynamical events are localized and suppressed at high shear rates. Stability diagrams, which provide the conditions of the sedimentation of the rigid particle, are presented in terms of the applied force and the shear rate. These individual stability diagrams at each volume fraction map onto a universal stability diagram when the external force is scaled by the dynamic yield stress and shear rate with a ratio of the solvent viscosity to the low-frequency modulus of the SPGs.

Multiple dimensional rheology approach for oral texture prediction of yogurts

Rheological approach has been widely applied to investigate the flow behavior of fluid food for the understanding as well as prediction of oral textural sensation of such products. However, since oral texture sensation is highly dynamic and influenced by multiple contributing factors (i.e. oral temperature, oral processing time, saliva mixing, and varied shear rate), conventional rheological measurements can hardly be precise in predicting oral textural sensation and mouthfeel. Here, we propose a very different rheology approach, which synchronizes four major dimensions/variables in one set of rheological measurements: the oral residence time, the bolus temperature, the saliva ratio, and the oral shear rate. Results indicated that the multiple dimensional rheology approach improved the predictive accuracy of the in-mouth thickness of low-temperature yogurt and provided a new measure for quantifying the mouth-melting of yogurt. It appeared that apparent viscosity at a temperature of 13 °C, a saliva ratio of 20 %, and a shear rate of 1 s-1 gave the most reliable prediction of the in-mouth thickness of yogurt. This novel approach provides a much-improved accuracy of texture prediction which requires a minimal number of rheology tests. We believe that, even though this experimental approach was initially designed for low-temperature yogurt drinks, it is also applicable to the texture and mouthfeel prediction of many other food products.

A multivariate piecewise interpolation model for viscosity representation and its application to the numerical simulation of non-isothermal polymer melt flow

In this study, a multivariate piecewise interpolation model is introduced to represent melt viscosity based on temperature and shear rate. The model does not require a predefined functional form for the entire data range, instead finding a suitable line between adjacent measured viscosity data points to obtain viscosity as a function of shear rate and temperature. To assess the effect of viscosity representation on polymer melt flow, a two-dimensional (2D) flow past a cylinder problem and a three-dimensional (3D) single screw extruder problem are numerically solved using different viscosity models. The pressure drop (ΔP) from the shift-factor model deviates by more than 10% at an average velocity (Uav) of 1 m/s due to overestimation of viscosity in the high shear rate region. The dimensionless thicknesses of the thermal boundary layer near the channel wall (δT/H) at wall temperature (Tw) of 210 °C are also misevaluated by more than 4% using both the shift-factor model and the Klein model, reflecting their poor viscosity evaluation. It is noteworthy that in all viscosity models, a high Tw leads to the formation of a thin thermal boundary layer, which adversely affects the heat transfer. In single screw extruder applications, viscosity misevaluation in high shear rate regions causes issues in pure drag flow cases, while misevaluation in low shear rate regions causes issues in pure back-pressure flow cases. These analyses highlight the accuracy and versatility of our multivariate piecewise interpolation model compared to existing viscosity models.

Manifestation of surfactant–carrier interaction in ferrofluids in temperature-dependent magnetic rheology

The present study investigates surfactant–carrier interactions in non-aqueous ferrofluids with magneto-rheology at different temperatures. To the authors’ knowledge, such a study has not yet been reported. For this purpose, three ferrofluids—A, B, and C—were procured from Ferrotec, which had identical particles but different surfactant–carrier combinations. The study also encompasses structural and magnetic techniques to elucidate these samples’ physicochemical nature. The results show that the average magnetic size of particles (10 nm) is the same for all the three fluids. The nominal value of the surfactant chain length (4.5 nm) was derived from dynamic light scattering measurements, and the Rosensweig viscosity model and the Shliomis theory were the same. The magneto-rheological properties, e.g., shear stress vs shear rate in zero field and relative increase in ferrofluid viscosity in the applied field at two different temperatures (300 and 313 K), were fitted with Rosensweig and Shliomis models. They showed some variations in surfactant chain lengths. The results suggested the presence of surfactant–carrier interactions in these colloids. This new investigation may be useful in characterizing the stability of a ferrofluid and its practical aspects.

Analysis of heat and mass transfer rates in conducting Casson fluid flow over an expanding surface considering Ohmic heating and Darcy dissipation effects

In a recent scenario, the flow of Casson fluid via porous media has practical applications in various engineering processes, such, as the design of cooling systems for electronic devices, oil recovery in porous reservoirs, and polymer extrusion processes, etc. The proposed investigation illustrates the thermal and solutal transfer rates in a conducting Casson fluid flow over an expanding surface. However, the emphasis goes to the behavior of the Ohmic heating and Darcy dissipation when considering the transverse magnetic field and porous matrix. The governing flow phenomena with their dimensional form are altered into a non-dimensional set of equations with the help of suitable similarity rules. Further, an adequate numerical simulation is adopted to solve the transformed equations using the in-house bvp4c function in MATLAB. The physical parameters involved in the flow problem and their behavior on the governing flow phenomena are presented graphically and described briefly. Prior to this investigation, the conformity of the current numerical output obtained for the heat transfer rate was validated with the earlier work with a good correlation. Moreover, the major outcomes are; the non-Newtonian Casson parameter retards the axial and transverse velocity profile and the shear rate also decreases significantly. The Eckert number caused by the inclusion of the dissipative heat encourages the fluid temperature throughout.

Dynamic conformational response of von Willebrand factor to varying shear stress: A hybrid computational approach

This computational study examines the mechanobiological responses of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) to different shear stress levels, emphasizing the unique structural dynamics of its various domains. We introduce a novel coarse-grained model, representing each cluster of six amino acids as a bead, to synthesize the Lattice Boltzmann method with Brownian dynamics. This approach captures the vWF molecule’s conformational adaptability across a spectrum of shear rates, ranging from 5 to 5e + 7s−1, encompassing normal physiological flows to those resembling the high-shear environment of arterial stenosis.Our results reveal domain-specific responses of vWF, particularly in the A2 and A3 domains, which demonstrate significant elongation under elevated shear—reflecting their pivotal roles in clotting processes. Moreover, the study underscores the critical influence of random thermal forces on the molecule’s conformation, with simulations including these forces showing substantially greater conformational variability compared to those without.As shear rates increase, we observe a notable reorganization in the spatial arrangement of vWF domains. This reconfiguration is most evident in the increased separation between the A1 and D’D3 domains under high shear conditions, potentially enhancing the accessibility of platelets to key binding sites on vWF. These findings are paramount for a deeper understanding of vWF’s mechanical behavior in blood clotting and thrombosis, particularly the delicate balance between facilitating platelet adhesion and avoiding excessive stretching that could lead to thrombosis.Our work provides a foundation for future studies investigating vWF behavior in complex flow geometries and its interactions with other blood components. Such insights pave the way for more informed therapeutic strategies targeting vWF function in vascular health and disease, potentially leading to improved treatments for thrombotic disorders.

On the thixotropy of cellulose nanofibril suspensions

The thixotropic behavior of mechanically disk refined cellulose nanofibril (CNF) aqueous suspensions with 100% fines content at 1 and 3 wt% concentrations was investigated through creep, shear-recovery, multiple-step oscillation, startup, and flow loop experiments. The CNF suspensions exhibited the key thixotropic characteristics such as reduction in viscosity over time and structure recovery after cessation of flow. The results of shear recovery and multiple-step oscillation experiments suggested that regardless of the CNF concentration, lower extents of deformation impede the ability of the suspension to recover its structure at rest and higher levels of shear rates and strain amplitudes facilitate the structure recovery. Furthermore, the results of the startup experiments indicate that CNF suspensions form structures at two different levels where the flocs erode each other during flow. The different types of loops found in the flow loop experiments performed at different shear rates and time intervals were categorized and analyzed in terms of the effects of erosion of flocs and fiber rearrangement during flow.

Calibration modeling of drilling fluid rheological parameters in variable temperature environment based on support vector machine.

Traditional measurement of drilling fluid rheological parameters suffers from significant lag due to the inability of the instruments to promptly capture real-time parameters of the drilling fluid. These measurement models are typically constructed based on fixed temperature conditions and empirical formulas, rendering them inadequate for complex temperature gradient environments. Consequently, this limitation results in increased prediction errors, severely compromising the precise monitoring of drilling fluid performance. Aiming at the problems of low accuracy and poor stability of drilling fluid measurements under variable temperature conditions, a support vector machine-based calibration model for drilling fluid rheological parameters in a variable temperature environment is proposed in this paper. First, the measurement principle of the double-tube differential pressure rheology real-time measurement device is analyzed. The relationship between shear stress and shear rate is then established using differential pressure sensor and flow rate data. Utilizing the gray wolf optimization algorithm to optimize the kernel function weights and parameters, an SVM-based calibration model for predicting drilling fluid rheology correction parameters is constructed. Finally, a real-time monitoring platform for drilling fluid is developed. Experimental results show that the maximum relative errors for the predictions of apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point are within ±5%, with coefficients of determination (R2) all greater than 0.95. These results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in accurately monitoring the rheological performance of drilling fluids.

Study on the Shear Degradation Law of Polymer Drag Reducing Agents

Abstract The use of drag reducing agents in oil pipeline transportation can reduce driving energy consumption and has certain energy-saving benefits. However, irreversible degradation occurs when polymer drag reducing agents are sheared through pumping. In order to study the viscosity loss of polymer drag reducing agents caused by mechanical shear during the pumping process, the combination of methods such as a rotational rheometer and an indoor drag reducing loop testing system was used to test and analyze the rheological and drag reducing properties of the drag reducing agent solution, and to study the shear degradation law of polymer drag reducing agent solution under different conditions. The results showed that the shear stress of the polymer drag reducing agent solution increased with the increase in shear rate, and the viscosity increased with the increase of shear stress, showing shear thickening. When the polymer drag reducing agent solution is not sheared, the drag reduction rate increases and then decreases with the increase of concentration, and reaches the maximum value at 20 mg·L−1. However, after shear, the drag reduction performance decreases rapidly, but the high concentration still maintains a good drag reduction rate. The research results provide a theoretical basis for improving the performance of polymer drag reducing agents under different operating conditions and play a guiding role in further improving and perfecting the polymer drag reducing technology.

Characteristic of fluoroether gum via non-linear rheological approaches

Abstract Large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) tests were conducted on four types of fluoroether elastomer gum, namely VPL-85540, VPL-75545, VPL-65455, and VPL-55540 in order to study their molecular weight, chain structure, and branching degree from the perspective of rubber rheology. For the setting of shear rate in varied LAOS measurements, frequency and angular velocity controlling modes were attempted and compared. Non-linear rheological parameters showed that VPL-65455 possessed significant polymeric branching characteristics. VPL-55540 possessed the lowest molecular weight, and VPL-75545 was detected with higher long-pendant monomer content in its polymer chain. Rheological properties concluded from the analysis of two shear rate controlling modes of LAOS tests exhibited great consistency, which confirmed the reliability of LAOS tests in the characterization of fluoroether gum.

Constructing stable emulsion gel from gelatin and sodium alginate as pork fat substitute: Emphasis on lipid digestion in vitro

This study aimed to develop a gelatin-sodium alginate (G-SA) emulsion gel that can efficiently hold corn oil, as a substitute for pork fat while controlling the digestive behaviors of lipids in vitro. UV, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectra and surface hydrophobicity measurements of the G-SA mixtures indicated that gelatin and sodium alginate primarily form aggregates through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, and the optimum gelatin-to-sodium alginate w/w ratio was identified as 1.9. The final emulsion gel contained 3.15% gelatin and 1.65% sodium alginate (w/w) with a corn oil content of 40% (w/w). G-SA emulsion gel had a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs, 53.95 g/100 g) than pork fat (15.17 g/100 g). In addition, the G-SA emulsion gel exhibited stable viscoelastic properties without storage and loss moduli changes at increasing shear rates. The G-SA emulsion gel had a higher melting temperature (42.63 °C) than pork fat (35.07 °C). In vitro digestion studies showed that corn oil had a higher free fatty acid release (40.32%) compared to the G-SA emulsion gel (12.66%) and pork fat (8.53%) (P<0.05), indicating that the digestibility of corn oil was reduced in the G-SA emulsion gel. Calcein release experiments revealed that G-SA emulsion gel released the least amount of calcein (P<0.05) during digestion at a slow rate. The G-SA emulsion gel, similar to pork fat, contained evenly distributed digestive particles encapsulating corn oil after in vitro gastric digestion, with the smallest particle size among the treatments. After the in vitro small intestinal digestion phase, the G-SA emulsion gel maintained small droplet sizes with bridging flocculation. The in vitro digesta of the G-SA emulsion gel contained a significantly higher proportion of PUFAs compared to pork fat (P<0.05). Consequently, the G-SA emulsion gel can be a potential substitute for pork fat, offering higher proportions of PUFAs, lower fat content, and controlled lipid digestion with reduced lipid digestibility.

Anticorrosion and rheological properties of Calyptocarpus vialis extract as a green coating for mild steel in 2MH2SO4

This study assesses the rheological properties and corrosion inhibition efficacy of Calyptocarpus vialis (CV) extract, a wild plant in Asteraceae family. Shear and dynamic rheology studies show that CV extract has shear-thinning behaviour, with viscosity changes occurring at higher shear rates, most likely owing to aggregate formation. These aggregates may develop due to certain solvent characteristics and a jamming tendency is due to the presence of extract phytochemicals. Dynamic rheology confirms its viscoelastic nature. Corrosion inhibition effectiveness was investigated using Mild Steel (MS) in 2 M H2SO4, resulting in an 82.69 % inhibition with an extract concentration of 1 g/L. Adsorption isotherm indicates phytochemical adsorption on MS surface. Contact angles of polished MS (87.30°), with extract (80.10°), and without extract (51.25°) show decrease in wetting and increase in hydrophobicity which indicates that a thin protective layer is formed at MS surface. FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) images reveal that the CV extract forms a protective barrier on the MS surface, significantly reducing corrosion as compared to the unprotected surface exposed to the mild acid solution. Theoretical calculations, including Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations, Monte Carlo (MC), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, support the experimental findings, elucidating phytochemicals adsorption on the MS surface. Further research is required to examine the scalability of CV extracts for industrial applications, as well as their long-term stability and efficacy in various corrosive conditions.

Dry granular column collapse: Numerical simulations using the partially regularized [formula omitted]-model via stabilized finite elements and phase field formulation

We revisit the gravitational collapse of a 2D column of dry granular material surrounded by air, using a continuum mechanics approximation. By employing the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field equation as an interface capturing technique and by coupling it with the Cauchy equation, we numerically simulate this multiphase system, eliminating the need for any ad-hoc numerical adjustment to prevent the finger formation of light fluid between the material and the solid boundary due to the no-slip boundary condition. We implement the μ(I)-rheology in our stabilized Finite Element method, highlighting the presence of instabilities when using this constitutive law. Our study is characterized by three main goals. First, we address the instability issue by implementing the partially regularized formulation of the μ(I)-rheology proposed by Barker and Gray (2017). An important outcome is that using shock-capturing terms in the momentum equation can significantly smooth these oscillations by adding dissipation in the direction of the gradients. Second, we systematically study the fluid dynamics under realistic conditions. Our results accurately replicate the material dynamics during collapse, confirming three distinct stages: free-fall, spreading, and cessation. We identify two regions in the material during the spreading phase: a quasi-static zone with negligible velocities and deformations, and a flowing layer exhibiting high shear rates. These observations closely align with experimental data. Additionally, we examine the evolution of the yielded/unyielded regions based on the Drucker-Prager criterion, and we also explore an empirical criterion, based on a critical value of the velocity norm, that satisfactorily separates these regions. Finally, we perform an extensive parametric study covering a wide range of rheological parameters.

Disorder optimization in the mixed convective dynamics of nonlinear shear thinning materials with the significance of wavy surface amplitude and thermal resistance

A mixed convective driven wavy motion of the pseudo-plastic materials is very significant in different practical fields, like the production of paints and ketchup, etc. Blood flow through wavy vessels is another very practical aspect of this study. Energy conversion processes and effective resource use are one of the burning and hot topics when studying heat flow rate through materials. Main theme of this work is to optimize the heat energy conversion by introducing irreversible viscous dissipation and thermally radiative factors. In particular cases, the heat flow rate needs to be enhanced for low energy consumption. This is why, in such cases, the wavy surface flows are preferred by plane surfaces. The proposed problem is presented with highly non-linear mathematical equations. Some assumptions and variables address the mathematical equations in easily solvable forms. The findings are shown regarding the material's velocity, concentration, temperature, resistive forces, and heat-mass flow rates. A remarkable reduction in liquid velocity and enhancement in concentration and temperature is observed with the variation in amplitude of the wavy surface. The irreversible process is maximized due to the higher involvement of temperature ratio and thermal radiation factors, respectively. The ratio of infinite and zero shear rate viscosities reduced the concentration of the liquid. For method validation, a best-matched comparison is provided with literature.

Superposition of steady shear flow upon orthogonal small-amplitude oscillation from a rotarance theory

The novelty of this work is in its prediction of the non-Newtonian behavior of polymeric liquids in the orthogonal superposition of small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow upon steady shear flow. We do so using rotarance theory, namely, by considering only the orientability of the macromolecules in suspension. We arrive at explicit analytical solutions for the complex viscosity as a function of the steady shear rate and of the frequency of the superposed oscillation. Our results explain the canonical laboratory observations of orthogonal superposition: (α) the real part of the complex viscosity as a function of frequency decreases with increasing steady shear rate, (β) the curves of minus the imaginary part as a function of frequency go through a maximum, and (γ) the independence of the steady mean shear stress from the superposed oscillation. We compare our predictions with those of parallel superposition and discover that the further the macromolecular structure from axisymmetric, I3/I1=1, the greater the difference between parallel and superposition. In other words, studying both directions of superposition of either part of the complex viscosity uncovers the most important feature of macromolecular structure, the moment ratio, I3/I1, and thus, the macromolecular orientability.

Vat photopolymerization for thermal energy storage applications using encapsulated phase change material suspended in photocurable resin

A novel approach to additively manufacture latent heat thermal energy storage heat exchangers through the development of microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) suspensions in photocurable resin for vat photopolymerization (VPP) 3D printing is presented. Using MEPCM addresses the leakage risks that have typically been associated with PCMs and subsequently makes the particulates a suitable additive for VPP 3D printing. In the current study, VPP was employed to fabricate functional composites with varying MEPCM mass fractions for thermal, rheological, microstructure, and chemical characterization. Microstructure visualization was conducted to assess the overall distribution of MEPCM within the 3D printed samples and to confirm the structural integrity of the encapsulated particles after printing. The influence of the base resin viscosity was explored by investigating two photocurable resins with different viscosities—a high-tensile UV photopolymer and an ABS-like resin—during the printing process. Thermal properties, such as latent heat of fusion, phase-change temperature, thermal conductivity, and decomposition temperature of the 3D printed samples were determined. Rheology was used to observe the effect of varying shear rates on the MEPCM-resin mixtures to identify the optimal viscoelastic properties for VPP 3D printing. It was determined that the ABS-like resin was able to contain a larger amount of PCM (40 wt%) while maintaining printability due to the lower viscosity of the corresponding pure resin. The 40 wt% MEPCM composite exhibited an average viscosity of 18,817 cPs, a maximum latent heat of fusion of 54.12 kJ/kg, and a 12.4 % reduction in thermal conductivity compared to the pure polymer.

Drawing of fibres composed of shear-thinning or shear-thickening fluid with internal holes

We explore the drawing of a shear-thinning or shear-thickening thread with an axisymmetric hole that evolves due to axial drawing, inertia and surface tension effects. The stress is assumed to be proportional to the shear rate raised to the $n$ th power. The presence of non-Newtonian rheology and surface tension forces acting on the hole introduces radial pressure gradients that make the derivation of long-wavelength equations significantly more challenging than either a Newtonian thread with a hole or shear-thinning and shear-thickening threads without a hole. In the case of weak surface tension, we determine the steady-state profiles. Our results show that for negligible inertia the hole size at the exit becomes smaller as $n$ is decreased (i.e. strong shear-thinning effects) above a critical draw ratio, but surprisingly the opposite is true below this critical draw ratio. We determine an accurate estimate of the critical draw ratio and also discuss how inertia affects this process. We further show that the dynamics of hole closure is dominated by a different limit, and we determine the asymptotic forms of the hole closure process for shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids with inertia. A linear instability analysis is conducted to predict the onset of draw resonance. We show that increased shear thinning, surface tension and inlet hole size all act to destabilise the flow. We also show that increasing shear-thinning effects reduce the critical Reynolds number required for unconditional stability. Our study provides valuable insights into the drawing process and its dependence on the physical effects.