Brownian Dynamics of Polymers at High Strain Rates

We tackle the problem of viscoelastic break-up in high speed flow by employing a mesoscopic bead-spring model for the polymer chains, and by performing Brownian dynamics computations for a variety of extensional flows with high strain rates. The results inform about the level of elastic stresses during elongation, and allow inferences about the scaling of the necking process during rupture. Moreover, the findings clarify the mechanism of chain stretching, informing about the times required for full extension and the role of polymer geometry during elongation.