We investigate the flow evolution of a linear and a branched wormlike micellar solution with matched rheology in a Taylor–Couette (TC) cell using a combination of particle-tracking velocimetry, birefringence, and turbidity measurements. Both solutions exhibit a stress plateau within a range of shear rates. Under startup of a steady shear rate flow within the stress plateau, both linear and branched samples exhibit strong transient shear thinning flow profiles. However, while the flow of the linear solution evolves to a banded structure at longer times, the flow of the branched solution transitions to a curved velocity profile with no evidence of shear banding. Flow-induced birefringence measurements indicate transient birefringence banding with strong micellar alignment in the high shear band for the linear solution. The transient flow-induced birefringence is stronger for the branched system at an otherwise identical Wi. At longer times, the birefringence bands are replaced by a chaotic flow reminiscent of elastic instabilities. Visualization of the flow-induced turbidity in the velocity gradient-vorticity plane reveals quasi-steady banding with a turbidity contrast between high and low shear bands in the linear solution. However, the turbidity evolves uniformly within the gap of the TC cell for the branched solution, corroborating the non-banded quasi-steady velocimetry results. Finally, we show that while elastic instabilities in the linear solution emerge in the high shear band, the flow of branched solution at high Wi becomes unstable due to end effects, with growing end regions that ultimately span the entire axial length of the TC cell.
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Characterization of velocity fluctuations and the transition from transient to steady state shear banding with and without pre-shear in a wormlike micelle solution under shear startup by Rheo-NMR
Rheo-NMR velocimetry was used to study shear banding of a 6 wt.% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPCl) worm-like micelle solution under shear startup conditions with and without pre-shear. 1D velocity profiles across the fluid gap of a concentric cylinder Couette shear cell were measured every 1 s following shear startup for four different applied shear rates within the stress plateau. Fitting of the velocity profiles allowed calculation of the shear banding characteristics (shear rates in the high and low shear band, the interface position and apparent slip at the inner rotating wall) as the flow transitioned from transient to steady state regimes. Characteristic timescales to reach steady state were obtained and found to be similar for all shear banding characteristics. Timescales decreased with increasing applied shear rate. Large temporal fluctuations with time were also observed and Fourier transform of the time and velocity autocorrelation functions quantified the fluctuation frequencies. Frequencies corresponded to the elastically driven hydrodynamic instabilities,i.e.vortices, that are known to occur in the unstable high shear band and were dependent upon both applied shear rate and the pre-shear protocol.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1543875
- PAR ID:
- 10554949
- Publisher / Repository:
- De Gruyter
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Applied Rheology
- Volume:
- 30
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1617-8106
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 13
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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