The draw resonance instability of viscoelastic Giesekus fluids was studied by correlating the spinline extensional features and transit times of several kinematic waves in an isothermal melt spinning process. The critical drawdown ratios were critically dependent on the Deborah number (De, the ratio of material relaxation time to process time) and a single material parameter (αG) of the Giesekus fluid. In the intermediate range of αG, the stability status changed distinctively with increasing De, i.e., the spinning system was initially stabilized and subsequently destabilized, as De increases. In this αG regime, the level of velocity and extensional-thickening rheological property in the spinline became gradually enhanced at low De and weakened at high De. The draw resonance onsets for different values of αG were determined precisely using a simple indicator composed of several kinematic waves traveling the entire spinline and period of oscillation. The change in transit times of kinematic waves for varying De adequately reflected the effect of αG on the change in stability.
Keywords: Giesekus fluid; draw resonance; extensional deformation; kinematic waves; stability indicator; viscoelastic spinning.