4LM50 - Rheology

The course will start with demonstrating the rich variety of flow phenomena that rheologically complex liquids can exhibit. These phenomena will gradually be translated into the appropriate rheological concepts and subsequently experimental and numerical tools will be presented to characterize, describe and predict these behaviors. In particular, non-linear viscous behaviour as well as linear and non-linear viscoelasticity will be described and corresponding constitutive relations will be presented. The use of rheometry to determine rheological parameters in shear and extensional flow, the rheology of interfaces, as well as microrheological methods will be explained. The course will convey the required theoretical and technical background of different experimental techniques to give the user the opportunity, depending on his/her goals, to make a motivated choice on which type of measurement is best suited for his/her application. In addition, insight will be provided regarding the analysis and interpretation of rheological data, specifically with respect to the relations between microstructure and rheology. This aspect will be further illustrated by exploring the typical rheological behaviors of a number of main material classes such as polymers, suspensions and emulsions. In addition to experimental techniques, insight will be provided in the most important numerical methods that are available for simulation of viscoelastic fluid flows. Recent results from the MATE group will be an integral part of the course and will serve to illustrate both the theoretical and experimental aspects of rheology.