Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics of complex fluids near the gel point

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We have carried out nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of a system of crosslinked particles under shear flow conditions. As the fraction of crosslinks p is increased the system approaches a gel point at which the shear viscosity η and the first and second normal stress coefficients Ψ₁ and Ψ₂ diverge. All three quantities seem to diverge with a power law form: η ε⁻ˢ, Ψ₁,₂ ε⁻λ where ε=pc-p and s≈ 0.7 and λ≈ 3.15 in three dimensions and s≈ 2.0 and λ≈ 6.0 in two dimensions.