Le. Becker et Mj. Shelley, Instability of elastic filaments in shear flow yields first-normal-stress differences - art. no. 198301, PHYS REV L, 8719(19), 2001, pp. 8301
Using slender-body hydrodynamics, we study the flow-induced deformation of
a high-aspect-ratio elastic filament. For a filament of zero rest curvature
rotating in a viscous linear shear flow, our model predicts a bifurcation
to shape instabilities due to compression by the flow, in agreement with ex
perimental observations. Further, nonlinear simulations of this shape insta
bility show that in dilute solutions, flexibility of the fibers causes both
increased shear thinning as well as significant nonzero first-normal-stres
s differences. These stress differences are positive for small-to-moderate
deformations, but negative for large-amplitude flexing of the fibers.