We’ve seen that including terms that invoke past deformations (fluid

memory) can improve the constitutive predictions we make.

This same class of models can be derived in differential form, beginning
with the idea of combining viscous and elastic effects.

The Maxwell Models

The basic Maxwell model is based on the

observation that at long times viscoelastic
materials behave like Newtonian liquids, while at
short times they behave like elastic solids.

µ ∂τ 21
τ 21 + = − µγ 21
G ∂t

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

When we discussed SAOS material functions, we

introduced Hooke’s Law

Hooke’s Law for elastic solids τ 21 = −Gγ 21

initial state,
no flow, x1
initial state,
no forces ∆x1 no force
v1 (x 2 )
∆u1
deformed state,
deformed state, f1 = −k∆x1
∆u
∆x2 τ 21 = −G 1 f
∆x2
spring restoring force Hooke's law for
Hooke's law for linear springs
elastic solids

Similar to the linear spring law

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

1
 Hooke’s Law in shear: τ 21 = −Gγ 21

Hooke’s Law in general: τ = −Gγ (tref , t )

γ (tref , t ) ≡ ∇u + (∇u )T
Infinitesimal strain tensor

t
The components of γ (t ref , t ) γ 21 (t ref , t ) = γ 21 (t ′)dt ′
are related to the components
t ref
of γ (t ′) term by term:
t
γ pk (t ref , t ) = γ pk (t ′)dt ′
t ref

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Deformation (strain) ∂u1

γ 21 (t ref , t ) ≡ Shear strain
∂x2
x1 (t ref ) u (tref , t ) ≡ r (t ) − r (t ref ) Displacement
r (tref ) = x2 (t ref ) function

x3 (t ref )
123

flow
x1 (t )
x3
r (t ) = x 2 (t )
x3 (t ) 123
particle path P(tref) u(tref,t) P(t)
r(tref)
r(t)

x2

x1
© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

2
 Physical interpretation of strain in shear

∆u1
fluid particle γ 21 (tref , t ) =
∆x 2
at time tref

u1 ( P2 )
P2
∆x2 ∆u1
P1
u1 ( P1 )
v1 ( x 2 ) x2 fluid particle
x1 at time t

The strain is the inverse of the slope of the

side of the deformed particle.

The strain is related to the change of shape

of the deformed particle.
© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Deformation in shear flow (strain)

x1 (t ref )
∂u1
r (tref ) = x2 (t ref ) γ 21 (t ref , t ) ≡ Shear strain
∂x2
x3 (t ref )
123

x1 (t ) x1 (t ref ) + (t − tref )γ 0 x2
r (t ) = x 2 (t ) = x2 (t ref )
x3 (t ) 123
x3 (t ref )
123

(t − t ref )γ 0 x2
Displacement
u (tref , t ) ≡ r (t ) − r (tref ) = 0 function
0 123

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

3
 Deformation in shear flow (strain)
(t − t ref )γ 0 x2
u (tref , t ) ≡ r (t ) − r (tref ) = 0
0 123

0 0 0
∇u = (t − t ref )γ 0 0 0
0 0 0 123

0 (t − t ref )γ 0 0
γ = ∇u + (∇u ) = (t − tref )γ 0
T
0 0
Infinitesimal
0 0 0 123
strain tensor
in shear
© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Maxwell’s model combines viscous and elastic

responses

Spring (elastic) and

dashpot (viscous) in series: initial state
no force

Dtotal

final state
force, f, resists
displacement
Displacements are
additive: f
Dtotal = Dspring + Ddashpot
© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

4
 In the spring: f = −Gsp Dspring
dDdash
f = −µ
In the dashpot: dt
Dtotal = Dspring + Ddash
dDtotal dDspring dDdash
= +
dt dt dt
1 df 1
=− − f
Gsp dt µ
µ df dDtotal
f + = −µ
Gsp dt dt

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

µ df dDtotal
f+ = −µ
Gsp dt dt

By analogy:
η 0 ∂τ 21
τ 21 + = −η 0γ 21 shear
G ∂t
η ∂τ
τ+ 0 = −η 0 γ all flows
G ∂t

Two parameter η0
λ= Relaxation time
model: G
η0 Viscosity

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

5
The Maxwell Model

η0 ∂τ 21
In shear: τ 21 + = −η0γ 21
G ∂t
η0 ∂τ
In general flows: τ + = −η0 γ
G ∂t

Two parameter η0
λ= Relaxation time
model: G
η0 Viscosity

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

The Maxwell Model

η0 ∂τ 21
In shear: τ 21 + = −η0γ 21
G ∂t Solving this differential
η0 ∂τ equation for the stress
In general flows: τ + = −η0 γ yields the integral
G ∂t equation that we
introduced previously.

Two parameter η0
λ= Relaxation time
model: G
η0 Viscosity

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

6
What are the predictions of the Maxwell model?

Need to check the predictions to see if

what we have done is worth keeping.

Predictions:

•Steady shear
•Steady elongation
•Start-up of steady shear
•Step shear strain
•Small-amplitude oscillatory shear

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.