Density Functional approach to Nonlinear Rheology

Abstract

We present a density functional based closure of the pair Smoluchowski equation for Brownian particles under shear flow. Given an equilibrium free energy functional as input the theory provides first-principles predictions for the flow-distorted pair correlation function and associated rheological quantities over a wide range of volume fractions and flow rates. Taking two-dimensional hard-disks under shear flow as an illustrative model we calculate the pair correlation function, viscosity and normal stress difference under both steady and start-up shear.