arXiv subjects

Mathias Bechert

Publications and source records attributed to Mathias Bechert.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Non-Newtonian effects on draw resonance in film casting

In this paper, the influence of non-Newtonian material properties on the draw resonance instability in film casting is investigated. Viscoelastic models of infinite width film casting are derived systematically following an asymptotic expansion and using two well-known constitutive equations: the Giesekus model and the simplified Phan-Thien/Tanner~(PTT) model. Based on a steady state analysis, a numerical boundary condition for the inlet stresses is formulated, which suppresses the unknown deformation history of the die flow. The critical draw ratio in dependence of both the Deborah number and the nonlinear parameters is calculated by means of linear stability analysis. For both models, the most unstable instability mode may switch under variation of the control parameters, leading to a non-continuous change in the oscillation frequency at criticality. The effective elongational viscosity, which depends exclusively on the local Weissenberg number, is analyzed and identified as crucial quantity as long as the Deborah number is not too high. This is demonstrated by using a generalized Newtonian fluid model to approximate the PTT model. Based on such a generalized Newtonian fluid model, the effects of strain hardening and strain thinning are finally explored, revealing two opposing mechanisms underlying the non-Newtonian stability behavior.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2019

Unraveling radial dependency effects in fiber thermal drawing

Fiber-based devices with advanced functionalities are emerging as promising solutions for various applications in flexible electronics and bioengineering. Multimaterial thermal drawing, in particular, has attracted strong interest for its ability to generate fibers with complex architectures. Thus far, however, the understanding of its fluid dynamics has only been applied to single material preforms for which higher order effects, such as the radial dependency of the axial velocity, could be neglected. With complex multimaterial preforms, such effects must be taken into account, as they can affect the architecture and the functional properties of the resulting fiber device. Here, we propose a versatile model of the thermal drawing of fibers, which takes into account a radially varying axial velocity. Unlike the commonly used cross section averaged approach, our model is capable of predicting radial variations of functional properties caused by the deformation during drawing. This is demonstrated for two effects observed, namely, by unraveling the deformation of initially straight, transversal lines in the preform and the dependence on the draw ratio and radial position of the in-fiber electrical conductivity of polymer nanocomposites, an important class of materials for emerging fiber devices. This work sets a thus far missing theoretical and practical understanding of multimaterial fiber processing to better engineer advanced fibers and textiles for sensing, health care, robotics, or bioengineering applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Transport of flexible fibers in confined micro-channels

When transported in confined geometries rigid fibers show interesting transport dynamics induced by friction with the top and bottom walls. Fiber flexibility causes an additional coupling between fiber deformation and transport and is expected to lead to more complex dynamics. A first crucial step for their understanding is the characterization of the deformed fiber shape. Here we characterize this shape for a fiber transported in a confined plug flow perpendicular to the flow direction using a combination of microfluidic experiments and numerical simulations. In the experiments, size, initial orientation, and mechanical properties of the fibers are controlled using micro-fabrication techniques and in-situ characterization methods.The numerical simulations use modified Brinkman equations as well as full 3D simulations. We show that the bending of a perpendicular fiber results from the force distribution acting on the elongated object and is proportional to the elasto-viscous number, comparing viscous to elastic forces. We quantitatively characterize the influence of the confinement on the fiber deformation. The precise understanding of the deformation of a flexible fiber in a confined geometry can also be used in future to understand the deformation and transport of more complex deformable particles in confined flows, as for example vesicles or red blood cells.

physics.flu-dyn↗