Dynamics and Topology of Flexible Chains: Knots in Steady Shear Flows

Abstract

We use numerical simulations of a bead-spring model chain to investigate the evolution of the conformation of long and flexible elastic fibers in a steady shear flow. In particular, for rather open initial configurations, and by varying a dimensionless elastic parameter, we identify two distinct conformational modes with different final size, shape, and orientation. Through further analysis we identify slipknots in the chain. Finally, we provide examples of initial configurations of an "open" trefoil knot that the flow unknots and then knots again, sometimes repeating several times. These changes in topology should be reflected in changes in bulk rheological and/or transport properties.

22 pages, 12 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Numerical Study of a Microscopic Artificial Swimmer
• Spontaneous knotting and unknotting of flexible linear polymers: equilibrium and kinetic aspects
• Vesicle Dynamics in a Confined Poiseuille Flow: From Steady-State to Chaos
• Effect of bending rigidity on the knotting of a polymer under tension
• Complex dynamics of knotted filaments in shear flow

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Ultrafast reversible self-assembly of living tangled matter
• Dynamics of flexible filaments in oscillatory shear flows
• Dynamics of flexible fibers in confined shear flows at finite Reynolds numbers
• Stability of sedimenting flexible loops
• Chaos and irreversibility of a flexible filament in periodically-driven Stokes flow
• Spontaneous knotting of a flexible fiber in chaotic flows
• Effect of simple shear on knotted polymer coils and globules