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Dependence of flow behaviour of nematics in shear on the form of the mean‐field potential
Author(s) -
Minale Mario,
Apuzzo Giuseppe,
Greco Francesco,
Marrucci Giuseppe
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.1993.040020603
Subject(s) - extension (predicate logic) , statistical physics , shear (geology) , shear flow , mean field theory , thermodynamics , flow (mathematics) , mechanics , physics , materials science , condensed matter physics , computer science , composite material , programming language
The dynamic transition of nematics in (slow) shear from flow‐aligning to tumbling behaviour is here predicted by using the rigid rod‐like molecular model together with an extension of the Maier‐Saupe mean‐field potential. Such an extension, already available in the literature with reference to equilibrium data, includes interactions of rank higher than the basic quadrupolar one considered by Maier and Saupe. The theoretical predictions are then compared with the few existing sets of dynamic data. Although an acceptable qualitative agreement is found, the theory generally overpredicts the value of the relevant ratio α 3 /α 2 of Leslie coefficients.