A microstructure model for viscoelastic–thixotropic fluids

A microstructure model to describe the viscoelasticity and thixotropy properties of complex fluids is proposed. The model is based on the Lodge–Yamamoto network theory and is an extension of the Phan-Thien–Tanner model, with a kinetic process in which specific forms of creation and destruction rates are assumed. The final equation is simple with a small number of empirical parameters required and can be conveniently employed in engineering simulations. The predictions based on the model in a variety of shear and oscillatory shear flows are given. The stress response obtained from the model prediction agrees well with experiments on both shear and oscillatory flow histories.