A DIRECT SIMULATION OF FIBER SUSPENSIONS

A numerical method to simulate fibre suspensions in shear how is repor ted, which takes into account short range interaction via lubrication forces and long range interaction via slender body approximation, toge ther with an appropriate Ewald summation technique. The numerical resu lts are averaged to produce macroscopic properties of the suspension, including the Folgar-Tucker diffusion constant, the structure function s, and the reduced viscosity. In the semi-concentrated to concentrated regime, the fibres no longer follow Jeffery's orbits, they align most ly with the shear direction. Numerical data on the diffusivity constan t, the structure functions, and the reduced viscosity agree reasonably well with available experimental data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.