Procedures For The Rheological Characterization Of The Nonlinear Behaviour Of Complex Fluids In Shear And Squeeze Flows

This paper was dedicated exclusively to the rheological characterization of simple and complex fluids and a detailed analyze of available rheometric testing procedures. Throughout this thesis the rheological behavior of both simple and complex fluids has been studied and modeled in both shear and the complex motions (shear tests and squeezing tests). By linking conventional experimental test methods with numerical simulations of real flows, this thesis introduces a new concept in rheology: Computational Rheometry. All experimental investigations carried out in this study for the squeezing flows were accompanied by numerical simulations. For the oscillatory squeezing flow the influence of initial film thikness, oscillatory amplitude and frequency, computational time step was investigated by comparison with the theoretical predictions of squeeze force and a Genrealized Reynolds Equation inclued in a finite element code in Fortran. A validity domain was established for the analitical formulation of squeezing force. The constant velocity squeeze flow was investigated also using a quasi-steady approximation of the motion, which brings a significant reduction of the computational time, and a very good correlation with the transient (deformable mesh) approximation and the analytical predictions. The investigation of free surface influence on the distribution of normal force in both constant velocity and oscillatory squeeze flow was analyzed. In the case of constant velocity squeeze flow, the numerical simulations coupled with the free surface evolution and measured normal force during experimental investigations are suggesting the presence of a partial slip during the experimen.