QUANTITATIVE RHEOLOGICAL PREDICTIONS OF A TRANSIENT NETWORK MODEL OF LODGE-YAMAMOTO TYPE - SIMPLE AND MULTIAXIAL ELONGATIONAL FLOW

A transient network model is presented which is based on the ideas of Lodge and Yamamoto. The network thus consists of different types of strands and the creation and loss rates are configuration dependent. As the model cannot be solved analytically one has to rely upon numerical tools. Using a continuous time algorithm this network can be simulated very efficiently. The material functions can be calculated as time-dependent ensemble averages. Concentration is put onto a quantitative comparison between the rheological predictions of the model and experimental data for polyisobutylene subjected to simple and multiaxial elongational flows. The predictions of the model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.