Eur. Phys. J. E (2006) 21: 123-132
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10052-x

Regular Article

The response of 2D foams to continuous applied shear in a Couette rheometer

School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

^* e-mail: stefan.hutzler@tcd.ie

Received: 6 September 2006
Accepted: 23 October 2006
Published online: 1 December 2006

Abstract

The continuum model that has reproduced the experimental observation of exponential shear localisation for straight-edge boundary conditions is adapted to the case of circular geometry. Essentially the same effect is found. However, the scenario of possible velocity profiles is much richer. Our calculations elucidate many recent experiments qualitatively and suggest further extensions of them. Various limits are analysed. In particular, the localisation length vanishes as the inner-boundary velocity tends to zero.