Abstract
A Gaussian polymer chain in simple shear flow is studied using Langevin equations. Incorporating hydrodynamic interactions to first order in ε==4-d (d is the spatial dimensionality) with the aid of field-theoretic methods, we solve these nonlinearly coupled kinetic equations for polymer-solvent dynamics and analytically evaluate the second normal stress coefficient for small shear rates. It is found that the mean-field (consistent preaveraging) approximation for hydrodynamic interactions (HI) produces an unphysical positive , while inclusion of fluctuations in HI leads to a negative value for , in agreement with experimental evidence.
- Received 20 March 1989
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.40.2137
©1989 American Physical Society