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Motion onset in simple yield stress fluids
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2021
Abstract
We present an experimental investigation of motion onset in simple yield stress fluids. In this context, motion onset refers to the transition from the motionless steady state to a steady flow, as well as the development of motion in a fluid initially at rest. We consider the natural convection of carbopol microgels in a square cavity with differentially heated sidewalls. We use particle image velocimetry and thermometry to reveal the evolution of both temperature and velocity fields. It is a hallmark of yield stress fluids that a critical ratio of the yield stress and buoyancy stresses exists above which the steady state is motionless. We observe this critical behaviour in our experiments. Contrary to the theoretical predictions, however, systematic motion is evident at the onset of all experiments, even when the steady state is motionless. Above the critical limit, extremely slow motion is observed immediately after the onset of the experiment. This is followed by very slow decay to rest, reminiscent of creep behaviour. Below the critical limit, the initial slow dynamics is followed by flow development patterns similar to theoretical predictions based on the Bingham model. We show that motion onset in carbopol microgels is dominated by subyield motion and fluidization, key processes that are not captured by viscoplastic models.
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- © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press
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