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Multiscale stress dynamics in sheared liquid foams revealed by tomo-rheoscopy
Florian Schott1, Benjamin Dollet2, Stéphane Santucci3
1Division of Solid Mechanics, LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. florian.schott@solid.lth.se.
Nature Communications
|October 16, 2025
Summary
This study combines rheometry and X-ray micro-tomography to observe soft jammed materials like foams. It reveals how microscopic rearrangements drive macroscopic material behavior and stress distribution.
Area of Science:
- Soft matter physics
- Materials science
- Rheology
Background:
- Standard rheometers measure bulk properties, missing microscale flow dynamics in soft amorphous materials.
- Understanding mesoscopic rearrangements is crucial for predictive models of material behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between microstructural changes and macroscopic rheological properties.
- To develop a model for stress buildup and relaxation in soft jammed materials.
Main Methods:
- Combined shear rheometry with time-resolved X-ray micro-tomography.
- Utilized 3D liquid foams as model soft jammed materials.
- Analyzed stresses and contact network topology at the bubble scale.
Main Results:
- Discovered universal scaling laws for local stress changes tied to topological modifications.
- Observed non-local stress redistribution following plastic events, mimicking elastic deformation.
- Demonstrated how microstructural rearrangements dictate macroscopic elastoplasticity.
Conclusions:
- Microscopic bubble rearrangements in foams directly influence macroscopic material properties.
- The study provides a framework for understanding stress dynamics in amorphous materials.
- Findings bridge the gap between microscale structure and macroscale rheology.
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