Shearing active gels close to the isotropic-nematic transition

We study numerically the rheological properties of a slab of active gel close to the isotropic-nematic transition. The flow behavior shows a strong dependence on the sample size, boundary conditions, and on the bulk constitutive curve, which, on entering the nematic phase, acquires an activity-induc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2008-08, Vol.101 (6), p.068102-068102, Article 068102
Main Authors: Cates, M E, Fielding, S M, Marenduzzo, D, Orlandini, E, Yeomans, J M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Gels - chemistry
Models, Chemical
Nonlinear Dynamics
Rheology - methods
Viscosity
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Summary:We study numerically the rheological properties of a slab of active gel close to the isotropic-nematic transition. The flow behavior shows a strong dependence on the sample size, boundary conditions, and on the bulk constitutive curve, which, on entering the nematic phase, acquires an activity-induced discontinuity at the origin. The precursor of this within the metastable isotropic phase for contractile systems (e.g., actomyosin gels) gives a viscosity divergence; its counterpart for extensile suspensions admits instead a shear-banded flow with zero apparent viscosity.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.101.068102