Radius of Gyration in Shear Gradient Direction Governs Steady Shear Viscosity of Rouse-Type Model

Abstract: We analyze the stress tensor and the gyration tensor of an unentangled polymer melt under flow by using a Rouse-type single chain model. We employ the bead-spring type single chain model, in which beads interact each other via nonlinear potentials such as the finite-extensible nonlinear elasticity (FENE) potential. Beads are assumed to obey the Langevin equation with a constant friction coefficient. We derive simple yet general relations between the stress tensor and the gyration tensor for this Rouse-type model, without any additional approximations. Various formulae for rheological quantities in terms of the gyration tensor can be derived from the general relations. For example, the steady shear viscosity is governed by the gyration radius in the shear gradient direction.