Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
Published on: May 20, 2014
Schematic models for dynamic yielding of sheared colloidal glasses
Matthias Fuchs1, Michael E Cates
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, UK EH9 3JZ. mfuchs@ics.u-strasbg.fr
Abstract:
The nonlinear rheological properties of dense suspensions are discussed within simplified models, suggested by a recent first principles approach to the model of Brownian particles in a constant-velocity-gradient solvent flow. Shear thinning of colloidal fluids and dynamical yielding of colloidal glasses arise from a competition between a slowing down of structural relaxation, because of particle interactions, and enhanced decorrelation of fluctuations, caused by the shear advection of density fluctuations. A mode coupling approach is developed to explore the shear-induced suppression of particle caging and the resulting speed-up of the structural relaxation.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Colloids and Suspensions
Shearing Strain
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials under Plane Stress
The Maximum Shearing Stress Criterion, also known as the...
Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses
Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model

