- Fiber simulation
Fiber simulation is a branch of
mechanics that deals with modeling the dynamics andrheology of particles of large aspect ratio, orfibers with the goal of predicting the properties of fibersuspensions and networks based onfirst principles . Simulation of fiber suspensions have applications in paper industry and also incomposites , including composites made ofcarbon nanotubes . Many of the models used to simulate fibers were developed by researchers in the field ofrheology . Rheologically speaking fiber suspensions arenon-Newtonian fluid s, and can displaynormal stress differences.Early fiber simulations employed particles which were rigid rods or prolate
spheroids , whose equations of motion have analytical solutions. More recent models are able to represent flexible fibers. The models rely heavily oncontinuum mechanics concepts and the numerical methods employed have some similarities to those employed inmolecular dynamics , or in dynamics of multi body systems.The use of computers facilitates greatly the solution of fiber simulation problems. The complexity of the simulations arise from the system having a large number of degrees of freedom, and from the numerous possible interparticle interactions having place, such as
friction , hydrodynamic interactions, and other kinds of interparticle forces such ascolloidal forces that exert attractive or repulsive forces.
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