Vol.3, No.4, 307-318 (2011)
doi:10.4236/ns.2011.34040
C
opyright © 2011 SciRes. Openly accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
Nat ural Scie nce
A new constitutive theory for extrusion-extensional flow
of anisotropic liquid crystalline polymer fluid
Shifang Han
Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Academia Sinica, Chengdu, P. R. China; sfh5578@yahoo.com.cn
Received 29 January 2011; revised 22 February 2011; accepted 20 March 2011.
ABSTRACT
A new continuum theory of the constitutive
equation of co-rotational derivative type was
developed by the author for anisotropic viscoe-
lastic fluid-liquid crystalline (LC) polymers (S.F.
Han, 2008, 2010). This paper is a continuation of
the recent publication [1] to study extru-
sion-exten- sional flow of the fluid. A new con-
cept of simple anisotropic fluid is introduced.
On the basis of anisotropic simple fluid, stress
behavior is described by velocity gradient ten-
sor F and spin tensor W instead of the velocity
gradient tensor D in the classic Leslie-Ericksen
continuum theory. A special form of the consti-
tutive equation of the co-rotational type is es-
tablished for the fluid. Using the special form of
the constitutive equation in components a com-
putational analytical theory of the extru-
sion-extensional flow is developed for the LC
polymer liquids-anisotropic viscoelastic fluid.
Application of t h e con stitutive theory to th e flow
is successful in predicting bifurcation of elon-
gational viscosity and contraction of extrudate
for LC polymer liquids- anisotropic viscoelastic
fluid. The contraction of extrudate of LC poly-
mer liquids may be associated with the stored
elastic energy conversion into that necessary
for bifurcation of elongational viscosity in ex-
trusion ex
tensional flow of the fluid.
Keywords: Constitutive Equation of Co-Rotational
Derivative Type; Simple Anisotropic Fluid;
Liquid Crystalline Polymer; Extrusion-Extensional
Flow; Bifurcation of Elongational Viscosity;
Contraction of Extrudate of LC Polymer Liquids
1. INTRODUCTION
The liquid crystalline (LC) is a fundamental material
in the hi-tech industries. The rheological behavior of LC
polymer melt and solutions is considerably different
from that of the common Polymers [1-3]. The extrusion
of thermotropic LC polymer melts has been shown to be
very effective in producing a high degree of macroscopic
orientation material, as Keclar (p-phenylence terephtha-
lamide). The PE melt extruded with the same slit die
shows substantial extrudate swell. However LC polymer
shows different contraction of the extrudate and a slight
decrease with increasing shear rate, which is consistent
with the PE melt results [4-6]. Special behavior of the
first and second normal stresses is observed by Baek,
Larson, Hudson, Huang by experimental investigation
with HPC and PBLG [7-9]. The experimental results
show regions of both positive and negative of the first
and second normal stress differences, that is the normal
stresses 1
and 2
change sign two times with variation of
shear rates. The especial behavior of LC polymer is due
to the anisotropy of the material.
The classic continuum theory for LC material was
developed by Ericksen and Leslie [10-15] which de-
scribes the main features of flow of nematic liquid crys-
tal of low molecular weight or the flow at low shear
rates. In research on continuum theory of anisotropic
fluids, Green has given attempts to extend basic concept
of simple fluid for anisotropic fluid case [16-17]. Ac-
cording to Green a simple anisotropic fluid is defined as
one for which the stress tensor at a particular particle at
time
is dependent on the whole history of the deforma-
tion gradients F and the whole history of rotation tensor
R at the same time. The constitutive equation can be
reduced to that which contains only the whole history of
the deformation gradients F, with no history of rotation
tensor R in it. The convected constitutive equation of
Oldroyd type is well used for the isotropic polymer solu-
tions or melts in Non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, but
rarely for the case of anisotropic LC polymer fluid. The
first attempts were given by Volkov and Kulichikhin for
LC polymer fluid [18,19]. Using the Maxwell linear
equation (1867) for anisotropic liquid crystals and in-
troducing a convected Maxwell model with relaxation
and viscosity tensor Vokov and Kulichikhin developed a
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
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308
more simple constitutive equation with non-symmetric
shear viscosity. As pointed out by the authors that the
constitutive equation is available for the case of small
recoverable strains in comparison with the total strains
[19].
As pointed out by Larson [20], the nematic LC poly-
mer shows director tumbling in shear flow. The experi-
ments have confirmed the tumbling for nematic polymer
solutions, but relatively rare in small-molecular nematics.
The research of Vokov and Kulichikhin have also con-
firmed that it needs further study the non-symmetry of
the shear stress components in shear flow [19] which
may lead to director tumbling in it.
The anisotropic behaviour of LC polymer liquids can
be studied by the continuum theory. Using convected
co-rotational time derivative, we developed a new con-
cept continuum theory of the constitutive equation for
LC polymer [1-3,21-24]. In the constitutive equation
theory a new concept of simple anisotropic fluid was
introduced. Extending co-rotational Oldroyd fluid B [1,2]
the components of the stress tensor ij and its co-rota-
tional derivative in it are assumed to be a tensor function
of i
n,i,ij
S
N
A
and ij
Winstead of velocity gradient tensor D
in the classic Leslie-Ericksen continuum theory. Using
the tensor analysis approach [10-15] and analyzing the
physical nature of the fluid, a general form of constitu-
tive equation is constructed for the fluid. The developed
theory is successful in predicting special behavior of the
first and second normal stress differences which are in
agreement with the experiments [7-9].
This paper uses the new concept constitutive equation
[1] extrusion-extensional flows of the anisotropic vis-
coelastic fluids are studied, which is an important appli-
cation of the developed constitutive theory. A new con-
cept of extrusion-extensional flow is introduced to de-
scribe the flow near the die exit of LC polymer melts in
extrusion process. This concept is more general than
pure extensional flow, which could not exist near the die
exit. Application of the constitutive theory to the extru-
sion-extensional flow is successful in predicting bifurca-
tion of elongational viscosity and contraction of extru-
date for LC polymer liquids–anisotropic viscoelastic fluid.
2. PRINCIPLES OF NEW CONCEPT
CONSTITUTIVE THEORY
2.1. New Concept of Anisotropic Simple
Fluid
To start research on extrusion-extensional flow it is
necessary to discuss the main principles of new contin-
uum theory of the constitutive equation of co-rotational
derivative type for anisotropic viscoelastic fluid [1]. The
constitutive equation will be rewritten in an available
form for research on the flow. The “Simple fluid” is a
fundamental concept which is based on the theory for
modern non-Newtonian fluid mechanics; it is generally
valid for isotropic fluid. The “principle of objectivity of
material properties” introduced by Noll (1958) is well
used to construct constitutive equation in non-Newtonian
fluid mechanics and rheology. The simple fluid in sense
of Noll is a great significance in construction of consti-
tutive equation theory for isotropic non-Newtonian flu-
ids. But as pointed by out Tanner, it is easy to construct
physical systems where this principle does not hold [25].
For example it does not hold for a dilute suspension of
spheres when the microscale Reynolds number is not
negligible. Zahorski noted [26] that the requirement of
invariance with respect to the reference frame in consid-
erations involving some fields may prove to be too re-
strictive. The principle may also be too restrictive for
anisotropic fluids! Therefore, the concept of simple fluid
should be improved further for the special case-anisot-
ropic viscoelastic fluid.
A concept of superposed rigid body rotations was in-
troduced by Green [16,17] which leads to the following
conclusion that the rotation tensor does not affect stress,
apart from orientation, i.e. invariance of the equations
with respect to superposed rigid rotations. The conclu-
sions of Green are only valid for the nematic liquid
crystal of low molecular weight or the flow at low shear
rates with any orientation. The nematic liquid crystalline
polymer shows director tumbling in shear flow which is
confirmed by experiments for nematic polymer solutions
[20]. Using the Maxwell linear equation (1867) for ani-
sotropic liquid crystals, non-symmetric shear stresses in
shear flow were founded by Vokov and Kulichikhin for
LC polymer liquids [18,19] which may be a cause of
rotation motion in the flow. The new concept of simple
anisotropic fluid was defined for the liquid crystalline
polymers [1], which is a basic point of investigation. Let
the observer is attached to the rotating particle of fluid,
i.e. in co-rotational coordinate system. The simple ani-
sotropic fluid is understood as one for which the stress
behavior is assumed to be a functional of the whole his-
tory of the deformation gradients F and the whole his-
tory of spin tensor W instead of rotation tensor R in the
Green theory.The relationship between the spin tensor
stWmeasured with respect to the fixed reference
frame and the spin tensor measured with respect
to the co-rotational reference frame is given as

ctW

TT
sc
ttttWWQ Q
t (1)
It was easily proved that the spin tensor
ctW is
also anti-symmetric

T0
c
c
tt
WW (2)
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openl y accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
309
t
It was proved
 
T
cc
ttt
WQWQ (3)
The new spin tensor measured with respect to
the co-rotational reference frame is objective. Instead of
rotation tensor in the Green Theory, a spin tensor

ctW

tR
s
W
W
in constitutive equation measured with respect to
fixed coordinates is expressed by a sum of spin tensor
c measured with respect to co-rotational coordinates
and co-rotational tensor term as given by (1). The simple
anisotropic fluid is defined as one for which the stress
tensor at a particular particle is a functional of the whole
history of the deformation gradient F and the whole his-
tory of spin tensor W measured with respect to the co-
rotational coordinates.


0
£,Ts

FWs
A
(4)
where W is defined by (3).
2.2. General Constitutive Theory
In construction of continuum theory of constitutive
equation for the LC polymer-anisotropic viscoelastic
fluids, the following principal concepts are introduced
[1,3]:
1) A concept of anisotropic simple fluid is introduced.
According the new definition the stress is dependent on
the whole history of deformation gradient and the whole
history of spin tensor measured with respect to co-rota-
tional coordinates.
2) The constitutive equation contains both contribu-
tions due to the orientational motion of director and hy-
drodynamic motions of fluid, to describe anisotropic
effects of LC polymer [1,3,21-24]. The stress tensor is
considered as a functional of the deformation tensors and
tensors composed of the director vector and its deriva-
tive. According to the statistic physics, the macroscopic
magnitudes are considered as an average of the micro-
scopic values.
3) Because the nematic LC polymer solution is also
viscoelastic fluid, the constitutive equation of co-rota-
tional Oldroyd fluid B is a basic point in constructing the
equation theory for anisotropic viscoelastic fluid. Con-
stitutive equation for anisotropic viscoelastic fluid can
be constructed by generalizing co-rotational Oldroyd
fluid B.
The Oldroyd fluid B of upper-convected derivative
type is well used for isotropic non-Newtonian fluid me-
chanics. The Oldroyd fluid B with upper-convected de-
rivative is extended to the case of co-rotational time de-
rivative developed by S.F. Han [21-24]
000
oo
ij
ij
ij ij
SSA

 (5)
where: 0
- isotropic relaxation time ;0
- isotropic limit-
ing viscosity;ij - components of the extra-stress ten-
sor; ij
S
A
- components of the first Rivlin-Ericksen tensor;
the top circle “o” denotes the contravariant components
of co-rotational time derivative defined as
,
ij
ijm ijikjj ki
mk k
S
SvSS
t

 
S
(6)
For anisotropic fluid, a generalized Maxwell equation
is given as [19]
d
d
kl
ijklijijkl kl
SS
t

 (7)
where the relashinship between the viscosity tensor
ijkl
and the relaxation time tensorijkl
is defined by
ijklijkl ijkl
G
(8)
Eq.7 describes the linear anisotropic viscoelastic fluid
behavior. In the Leslie-Ericksen continuum theory [10-
14], the hydrodynamic components of the stress tensor
are assumed to be a tensor function of i,i and
ij , the full deformation history is described only by the
symmetric part of the velocity gradient , i.e. the rate
tensor ij are symmetric. This is a limitation of the
Leslie-Ericksen theory. According to new definition of
anisotropic simple fluid instead of velocity gradient ten-
sor in the classic theory, the stress tensor is de-
scribed by 1st Rivlin-Ericksen tensor
ij
S
Dn N
D
D
D
A
and spin tensor
for the solutions and the liquids. Extending the gen-
eral principle in constructing constitutive equation by
Truesdell [27] and Ericksen [11] and generalizing con-
stitutive equation of co-rotational Oldroyd fluid B (5)
and generalized Maxwell equation, the stress compo-
nents and those co-rotational derivative are assumed to
be of functional of i,i, ij
W
n N
A
and ij , a general
form of the constitutive equation of the fluid is given as
W
0,,,,
oo
ijijkl ijijijijijiij
SSA AnN




(9)
where ij
is tensor functional, the ,
s
j

are mate-
rial constants, ij
A
- components of the first Rivlin-
Ericksen tensor, ij
- components of spin tensor , W
iikk
Nn n
.
For anisotropic viscoelastic fluid-LC polymer melt and
solution the stress tensor is un-symmetric. The anisotropy
in elasticity of LC polymers leads to an un-symmetry of
the stress tensor. The rotation of the director vector is a
source of dissipation in the nematic liquid even in the
absence of flow [20]. The stress relationship derived
from the Ossen integral equation shows that for nematic
fluid the orientational motion of the director vector cha-
racterized by the director surface body stress and intrin-
sic director body force, leads to un-symmetry in stress
tensor.
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310
2.3. Symmetric and Un-Symmetric Stress
The first Rivlin-Ericksen tensor ij
A
expresses de-
formation history due to the normal-symmetric part of
the deformation velocity gradient in the fluid, the spin
tensor ij expresses deformation history due to the
un-symmetric part of deformation velocity gradient in
the fluid. However the un-symmetry of the stress tensor
is determined by the un-symmetry of the shear stress
components. It does not have principal influence on the
normal stress differences which is of completely sym-
metric. The stress tensor can be split into two parts:
symmetric and un-symmetric
W
n
ijij ij
SSS
s
(10)
where “n” denotes normal-symmetric part, “s” denotes
shear un-symmetric part. The tensor functionalij
in
Eq.9 is split into symmetric and un-symmetric too.
For the normal-symmetric part of the stress tensor a
general form of the constitutive equation is proposed as
0
12
,,,,
ooo
nn
ijijkl klijijijijiij
oo
jk kiik kj
SSAAAnN
AA
 


oo
(11)
The special term 12
j
kki ikkj
A
A
 
of high order in
Eq.11 is introduced to describe the special change of the
normal stress differences which is considered as a result
of director tumbling effect by Larson et al. [20].
For the shear un-symmetric part of the stress tensor
the general form of the constitutive equation is proposed
as
,, ,,
, 1,2,3
o
sss
ijkl ijkijijiij
SS nN
ijk


(12)
In Eqs.11 and 12 the relaxation time tensor compo-
nents n
ijkl
and
s
kl
are introduced for normal-symmetric
and shear un-symmetric stresses respectively.
2.3.1. Normal Symmetric Part
The constitutive Eq.11 can be reduced to the follow-
ing form [1]
01 2
123
ooo o
n
ijijklklijijjk kiik kj
ij ksksi kkjjkik
SSAA AA
nnnnAnn Ann A


 

(13)
2.3.2. Shear Un-Symmetric Part
For the shear un-symmetric part, the partial Eq.12 can
be reduced to the following form [1,2]
12
34
o
sss
ijklijkj sisi sjs
ijij k sks
SSnn nn
nnnn

 
 

(14)
where 17 48291031341
, , ,

  .
In Eqs.13-1 4 ijkl
- anisotropic relaxation times, di-
mension of which is [s];
,12 3
,,

- anisotropic vis-
cosities being influence of the orientational motion on
the viscosity; 0
- anisotropic retardation time;
,
,
1
, 23 3
, ,12
, , 4
,

- [Pas] ,
- [Pas2].
2.4. Constitutive Equation for
Axial-Symmetric Case
Now axial-symmetric flow is studied. This is two di-
mensional problems. The cylindrical coordinate system
,,zr
is used. For the 2D problem the velocity field
and the director field are given as

,0,, ,0,
rz
Vuwnnn
(15)
For the velocity field Eq.15 co-rotational time deriva-
tive components of extra stress components are calcu-
lated. For velocity field Eq.15 and the normal- symmet-
ric part of the stress the constitutive Eq.13 can be re-
duced to equations in stress components, where the
property of symmetry for the relaxation time tensor
ijlm
Eq.8 was used. The stress process is assumed to be
time-independent. Using the definition of co-rotational
derivative, the constitutive equations in components can
be reduced. The constitutive Eq.13 in components is
finally reduced to the following type:




11
2
012
222
1
23
2
22
2
rrrz rzkrz
rz rzrzrrzz
rrrr zzzrzrz
rrrrzrz
SS
u
A
AA
r
nnA nAnnA
nnA nA



 

 
(16)




11
2
012
222
1
23
2
22
2
zzrz rzkrz
rz rzrzrrzz
zrrr zzzrzrz
zrrzzzz
SS
w
A
AA
r
nnA nAnnA
nnA nA



 

 
(17)



36
2
0
22
1
22
1
2
4
2
2
rzrz rzrz
rzrrzzrz rz
rzr rrz zzrzrz
rzr rrz zzrzrz
SS
uw
A
AA
zr
nnnAnAnnA
nnnAnAnnA
 
 



 





(18)
For the constitutive equation the following eight in-
dependent material functions are introduced

13600 212
1
, , , , , , , 2
k



Eqs.16-18 are generally available for the axial-sym-
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311
metric (2D) problem of anisotropic viscoelastic fluid flow.
3. BIFURCATION IN
EXTRUSION-EXTENSIONAL FLOW
3.1. Kinematics of Exrusion-Extensional
Flow
The process of production of high degree of macro-
scopic orientation fiber by LC polymer melt, as Keclar
(p-phenylence terephthalamide) is an anisotropic-vis-
coelastic fluid flow [Figure 1]. The polymer melt mo-
tion in extrusion process near the die exit of fiber spin-
ning is a viscometric or extrusion-extensional flow, i.e. a
shear flow dominating extension, or an extensional flow
with an additional shear flow element. The axial-sym-
metric case is considered. The cylindrical coordinate
system
,,rz
is used. For symmetric case the veloc-
ity and director vector field are given as

,, ,, 0uurz wwrz v (19)

,,0, 0. (20)
rz
nnn

As a first approximation the velocity field is assumed
to be of
 
d
d,
dd
Vz
wkz k
zz

where the u, w are the velocity components in radial and
axial directions, V(z) denotes the velocity field which is
uniform across the fiber section. According to the equa-
tion of continuity the velocity component u can be ob-
tained from
 
11
,
22
uu
kz kz
rr
 
Thus
 
1, d
2
ukzrwkz z
0
0
(21)
The first Rivlin-Ericksen tensor A and spin tensor W
are reduced to
00
00, 00
02 00
rz rz
rz rz
kA
k
Ak


 



AW
where
 
dd
,
2d4d 2
rz rz
kz kz
rr
Azz

 
Neglecting gravity, surface tension and air resistance
at the surface of the filament. The boudary condition and
Figure 1. Sketch of fiber spinning process of polymer melt.
the stress condition at the surface are given as
 
,, ,,
ra
a
uUaxt wazt
tz


a
, (22)
coscos0, coscos0
rr rzrz zz
PP PP

, (23)
where
22
1
cos, cos
11
a
z
aa
zz



 

 

 
. (24)
3.2. Bifurcation of Elongational Viscocity
The elongational viscosity is specially interested. The
elongational viscosity of extrusion-extensional flow of
the LC polymer fluid will be studied. For axial-symmetric
problem Eq.19 the equation of motion is reduced to
rr
rrrz SS
SS
uuu p
uw
trzrrz r

 

 

 

(25)
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
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312

1rz
z
z
rS S
www p
uw
trz zrr
 

 

 
 z
(26)
For extrusion process of LC polymer melt a condition
of no director tumbling can be proposed, 12
0

.
The constitutive Eqs.16-18 can be reduced to the fol-
lowing form


11
222
00 1
2
23 23
2
31 2
rrrz rzkrz
rz rz
rrz
SS
knnkn
nk nn
 
n




 

 

(27)



11
222
00 1
2
23
2
231
2
zzrz rzkrz
zz rz
zr z
SS
knnkn
nn kn
 
2n
 
 


 

 

(28)


36
2
001
2
23
2
331 2
2
2
rzrz rzrz
rzzrz
rrzrzz
SS
knnnknn
nnnk nnkn
 
2
 
 

 


(29)
Solving Eqs.27-29 by the computational symbolic
manipulation, such as Maple, general analytical expres-
sions are obtained by the constitutive equation for the
shear stresses and the normal stress. Three special cases
will be interested.
Case 1: Director vector is parallel to stretching direc-
tion sin0, cos1
 The analytical expressions of
shear stress and normal stress differences are calculated
by Maple. The elongational viscosity is difined as
 



2
0310123 3
2
1631 3
2
030 103
2
1631 3
312 1
1
22
1
zz rr
E
kk
kk
SS
k
k


 
 

 

 




 




k
(30)
Replacing extension rate in axial direction k in Eq.30
by that in radial direction r
k
, Eq.30 is reduced to
 



2
0310123 3
2
1631 3
2
030103
2
1631 3
312 1
1
22
1
E
kk
r
kk k
 

 


 

 




 




(31)
It can be seen from Figures 2-6, that all curves of
elongational viscocity vs radial extension rate have a
same point of intersection with curve 0
3
e

.
Figure 2. Elongational viscosity vs radial extension rate
with variation of shear rate
k
(no orientation case) 0
3
e
Co-rotational Maxwell model [2,21].
For simplicity it is asummed
6103
, 0
k
 

The Eq.30 is reduced to


2
0101 23
22
1
01 0 3
22
1
32
1
2
1
zz rr
E
r
SS
k
k
 

 







(32)
Let at point of intersection ic
ee
, one can obtain
from (31)



22 2
001230
2
0103
132 3
22
ic
e
r
k
0
 



 


(33)
For all curves of elongational viscocity vs extension
rate the sufficient and necessary condition of intersection
at a same point is that the coordinates of the point are
independent on shear rate. Let the constants and the co-
effcients of 2
at both sides of Eq.33 are equal each
other one can obtain the coordinates of intersection point
0123
3
ic
e

 (34)
and

2
01230
000003
3
1
32 2
r
k





 
thus
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openl y accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
313

 
0000 3
2
000 01 2 30
2
3
r
k
 
 






(35)
Case 2: Director is vertical to stretching direction
0cos,1sin 
. For this case the analytical expres-
sions of shear stress and normal stresses diffeence are cal-
culated by Maple. The elongational viscosity is given as




2
0310123 3
2
1631 3
2
03010 2
2
1631 3
31 1
1
222
1
zz rr
E
kk
kk
SS
k
k
 
 
 
 

 

 




 




(36)
Case 3: The angle between director and stretching di-
rection is π4,
2
1
cos,
2
1
sin 

.
The elongational viscosity is given as





2
1631 3
2
0310
1231 233
2
0301 01123
2
1631 3
1
1
31
13
42
22
22
1
zz rr
E
kk
kk
SS
k
k
k
 

 
 


 



 




 





(37)
Case 4: No orientational motion
123 613
0, , 0


 
The elongational viscosity is given as



2
0310
2
1631 3
2
0301 0
22
1
31
1
2
1
zz rr
E
kk
SS
k
k



 



 







(38)
For Figure 2
00 1 2 3
42, 0.2, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
 
 
136
0.42, 0.0, 0.42, 0.05
k
 
 
For Figures 3 to 6
00123
42, 0.2, 1.5, 4.0, 10,
 

136
0.42, 0.05, 0.4, 0.05
k


The first Rivlin-Ericksen tensor for the extrusion-
extensional may be split into two parts, the first part in it
Figure 3. Elongational viscosity vs radial extension rate
with variation of shear rate
k
(Director parallel to stretching
direction) 0
3
e
— Co-rotational Maxwell model [2,21].
Figure 4. Elongational viscosity vs radial extension rate
with variation of shear rate
k
(Director vertical to stretching
direction) 0
3
e
— Co-rotational Maxwell model [2,21].
represents pure extensional flow, and the second part-
shear flow. According to the previous investigation [1]
the additional normal stress differences are caused by
shear-unsymmetric part of the constitutive Eq.14. The
additional normal stress differences do not contain elon-
gational parameters and for the extrusion extensional
flow no principle influence on behavior of total normal
stress differences will be given.
4. COMPUTATIONAL ANALYTICAL
APPROACH TO
EXTRUSION-EXTENSIONAL FLOW
The computational analytical apprach is used to study
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openly accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
314
Figure 5. Elongational viscosity vs radial extension rate
with variation of shear rate
k
(Angle between director and
stretching direction —π4).
Figure 6. Elongational viscosity vs radial extension rate
with variation of director vector and shear rate
k
, 0
3
e
Co-rotational Maxwell model.
the extrusion extensional flow [2]. In research the com-
putater software such as Maple is used for symbolic
calculation. The extrusion process is assumed to be iso-
thermal. The velocity field of the extrusion-extensional
flow is assumed to be of
 
,, , 0
rz
vurzvwzv
 (39)
For the velocity field Eq.39 the equation of motion
Eq.25 and 26 are reduced to

1rz
zz rS
P
ww
w
tzzrr




 
 (40)
where:
z
zr
PpS
z

Multiplying obe sides of Eq. 40 by and inte-
grating it with respect to from 0 to radius of filament
one can obtain
2πrdr
r

000
2πd2πdd
aaa
rz
zz rS
P
w
wrrrrr
rzr



(41)
Using the parameter integrating formular from ma-
thematics

00
d
dd,
dd
aa d
f
a
xfxfau
ux

 u
(42)
the first integral at right side of Eq.41 can be splitted
into two terms , first one of which can be reduced to

000
dd
ddd
dd
aa a
zz
zz zz zz
rP
Pa
rrrrP r aPa
zzz z


 
Using boundary condition the second term at right
side in Eq.41 can be integrated which is given as

0
0
d
aa
rz rz rz
rS rrS aSa
r

Eq.41 is finally reduced to
 
2
0
0
1d
2πd2π
2d
d
2πd
d
a
rz zz
a
zz
wa
rraSaP a
rz
Prr
z




(43)
In the process of extruding on molten polymer, the ra-
dius of filament is most less than its length, aL
, an
approximate condition is satisfied at boundary of fila-
ment
2
1, 1
aa
zz





Eq.24 is reduced to
cos1, cos1
According to above geometric analysis the boundary
condition Eq.23 is approximately simplified to
 
d0
d
rzzz
a
Sa Pa
z
(44)
Using Eq.44 the Eq.43 is reduced to
2
00
1d
2πd2πd
2d
aa
zz
wrr Prr
rz

Introducing an averaging filament section, the above
equation is then reduced as
2
dd
dd
2
z
z
w
waa P
zz
(45)
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openl y accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
315
where the averaging filament section is given as
22
_
2
00
d1d1
d, d
dd
ππ
aa
zz zz
ww
rr PPrr
zz
aa


2
, (46)
Neglecting inetia in Eq.45, Eq.41 is finally simplified
to
2
πconstant
zz
aP C
(47)
The continuity equation may be written as
2
πQa
w
(48)
where w - average filement cross section velocity, Q -
mass flux,
- melt dencity. Solving Eq.47 and Eq.48
yields
1zz Cw
P
Q
C
w
, (49)
where
1
C
CQ
. (50)
Due to condition of stress equilibrium, the normal
strss at surface of filament is zero
0
rr rr
PpS 
It yields , the normal stress
rr
pS
z
z
P is given as
z
zzzzz
PpSSS rr
(51)
The extrusion extensional flow with orientation of di-
rector will be studied.
Case 1: Direcor vector is parallel to stretching direc-
tion: sin0, cos1
. Assuming 30
k
, the
normal stress difference may be rewritten as







2
2
163
2
2
010 123
2
2
01 0 3
1
d
4d
d
(123)8
d
d
2d
zz rr
k
SS kz
rz
kz
rk
z
kz
rz
 
 

 
 




 










z
(52)
Substitution of Eq.52 into Eq. 49 yields an ordinary
differential equation, then multiplying it by and
integrating it with respect to
2πr
r
from to 0rra
yields







2
163 1100103
2
0123 1
32
2
d12 840
d
k
aCwk z
kz kz Cw
z









(53)
The motion is assumed to be time independent. Using
velocity profile Eq.21 , the boundary condition Eq.22
can be simplified as
1d
2d
a
kaw z

Because of d
d
w
kz
, the above equation is reduced to
the form
1d d
2d d
w
aw
zz

a
(54)
Integrating Eq.54 yields
22
C
aw
(55)
Substitution of Eq.55 into Eq.53 yields







2
163 1100103
2
01231
32
2
d12840
d
k
CCwk z
w
kz kzCw
z
 








(56)
Assuming the following dimensionless variables
11
00
, , , ,
wRz
wCC a
VR
 

a
R
000 1
1
00
, , ,
V
R
kkWeFa
VR

00
 
 
,
36
2
2363
001
, , , ,
3
1






and considering the following character
 
2
02
1202
2
0
, , 1.
C
CCRVC
RVR
 

 

Eq.56 can be reduced to the following dimensionless
equation
 

6313
123 `1
321
2
d12 84
d
k
We WeCwFaWekFa
w
kkCw
 




 



 
 
.(57)
Finally, it is derived from Eq.57



`1123
363`1
d
d
832
321 k
k
wCw k
WeFaWekFaWeCw



 





(58)
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openly accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
316
d
d
wk
(59)
Using computer software Maple the simultaneous Eqs.
58 and 59 are solved by computer software Maple.
Case 2: Direcor vector is vertical to stretching direc-
tion: sin1, cos0
. Using the normal stress dif-
ference expression for this case similar simultaneous
equations may be obtained.
For Figures 7 to 9
123
0.8, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25Fa



36 1
0.1, 1.5, 0.01, 0.20
kC

 
 
5. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
New contribution is given in continuum theory ap-
proach to constitutive equation of co-rotational deriva-
tive type for the anisotropic viscoelastic fluidliquid
crystalline polymers. A new concept of simple anisot-
ropic fluid is introduced for anisotropic fluid. The first
and second normal stress differences are successfully
predicted by the new concept constitutive theory [1]
which is tendentiously in agreement with experimental
results of Baek, Larson et al. [7-9] as the experiments
were completed with different conditions. The constitu-
tive theory is verified by the experiments.
Using the constitutive equation with new conception
the extrusion-extensional flows of the anisotropic vis-
coelastic fluids are studied, which is an application of
the constitutive theory. Elongational viscosity vs radial
extension rate with variation of shear rate
r
k
is
Figure 7. Dimensionless axial velocity gradient vs dimen-
sionless distance (with variation of Weissenberg number ,
director parallel to stretching direction).
We
Figure 8. Dimensionless axial velocity vs dimensionless dis-
tance with variation of Weissenberg number We , director
parallel to stretching direction).
Figure 9. Dimensionless fiber cross section vs dimensionless
distance (with variation of Weissenberg number , director
parallel to stretching direction).
We
shown by Figure 2 when no orientation is considered.
Figure 3 and Figure 4 show elongational viscosity vs
radial extension rate with variation of shear rate when
the directors are parallel and vertical to stretching direc-
tion respectively. Figure 5 is a plot of elongational vis-
cosity vs radial extension rate with variation of shear
rate where the angle between director and stretching
direction is π4. Elongational viscosity vs extension
rate with variation of director vector and shear rate
is shown by Figure 6. For the extrusion-extensional flow,
Figure 7 to Figure 9 show axial dimensionless exten-
k
S. F. Han / Natural Science 3 (2011) 307-318
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openl y accessible at http://www.scirp.org/journal/NS/
317
sion velocity gradient d
d
w
, extension velocity and w
fiber diameter vs dimensionless distance a
respec-
tively with variation of Weissenberg number .
We
First conclusion can be drawn by Figure 2 to Figure
6. According to bifurcation theory a system has bifurca-
tion at parameter
when the system with parameters
is changed suddenly and its structure become unstable.
The Figures 2 to 5 show the curves of elongational vis-
cosity e
vs radial extension rate with variation of
shear rate
k
intersect at the same point on the phase
plane
,
e
k. As shown by Figure 2 to Figure 6, the
intersection point or bifurcation point is located at line
0e3
for no orientation case, above the line for di-
rectors parallel and vertical to stretching direction, and
below the line for angle between director and stretching
direction π4. This phenomenon is so called the bifur-
cation in elogational viscosity of LC polymer liquids
which is most interesting for modern non-linear science.
Shear rate
and director angle
are the bifurcation
parameters.
Second conclusion can be drawn by Figure 7 to Fig-
ure 9. Present theory is further verified by the following
comparison with the experiments of Mantia et al. [4,5].
In general case die swell is observed in many plastics
processes involving extrusion of polymer melt through
die into surroundings. On the contrary a contraction of
extrudate of LC polymer melt is observed by the ex-
perimental results of Mantia et al., which is a special
character of the anisotropic material. As shown by Fig-
ure 9, a contraction of the extrudate and a slight de-
crease with increasing the dimensionless distance are
predicted by the present continuum theory, which is ten-
dentiously in agreement with the experiments. This
phenomenon is called the contraction of extrudate,
anti-die swell. In comparison with the results of
co-rotational Maxwell model a remarkable change in
elongational viscosity of LC polymer liquids is observed
in Figures 3-6, when the orientation of director vector is
considered. The contraction of extrudate of LC polymer
melt may be associated with the stored elastic energy
conversion into that necessary for bifurcation of elonga-
tional viscosity in extrusion process.
The next conclusion is verified by the present investi-
gation. As pointed by Tanner and Zahorski [25,26], the
principle of material objectivity should be considered as
relative one. Generally, the co-rotational process of LC
polymer liquids is a slow one. For the anisotropic vis-
coelastic liquids we introduce a new concept of quasi or
pseudo-objectivity. When the co-rotational process of
LC polymer liquids is relatively slow, the spin tensor
measured with respect to a fixed coordinate sys-
tem can be considered as a quasi-objective, or pseudo-
objective. Consequentially for the the anisotropic fluid
the constitutive Eq.4 can be considered as quasi-objec-
tive, or pseudo-objective if the spin tensor W meas-
ured with respect to a fixed coordinate system is used in
the investigation. The constitutive equation can be ap-
plied to address a series of new anisotropic non-New-
tonian fluid problems.

s
Wt
Application of the constitutive theory to the extru-
sion-extensional flow is successful in predicting bifurca-
tion and contraction of extrudate of LC polymer liquids.
The present continuum theory of the constitutive equa-
tion is reasonable and available to predict macroscopic
rheological behaviour for this kind of fluids.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation in
China: No. 10772177, 19832050.
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