Yield behavior of colloidal aggregates due to combined tensile-bending loads

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 May;85(5 Pt 1):051406. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.051406. Epub 2012 May 29.

Abstract

In this contribution, the yield behavior of a strongly flocculated colloidal structure subjected to a tensile-bending load is micromechanically modeled. The yielding of a cluster is assumed to be triggered by the failure of one bond (critical bond) and accompanied by massive breakage of further bonds. Thus, identifying the position of the critical bond and evaluating its yield force are the main goals of this study. Interparticle bonds are considered as flexible nanoscale bridges which fail when the force applied on them reaches a critical value. The yield of the critical bonds can result from both tensile and bending stresses. By means of the yield stresses in the critical bonds, the yield force of the whole cluster can be calculated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't