Anisotropy and thermal stresses in the steady flow of viscoelastic fluids (Q1316079)

In this paper the authors continue their work [Rheol. Acta 27, No. 3, 217-223 (1988; Zbl 0665.76007)] on a thermodynamic approach to nonlinear viscoelasticity. They examine heat effects on the steady flow behaviour of a generalized Oldroyd 8-constant viscoelastic model studied by them in the above-mentioned reference and which predicts a coupling between the heat flow, the stress tensor and the velocity gradient. It is shown that the coupling between the heat flux and the rate of deformation leads to an anisotropy in the thermal conductivity for an arbitrary flow whereas its coupling with the stress tensor produces thermal stresses which arise from spatial inhomogeneities in the temperature field. These results are illustrated in the case of uniaxial elongation and simple shear flows. Finally, features of the new constitutive relations incorporating thermal stresses are discussed. This is certainly an interesting work. There is a distinct possibility that this thermodynamic approach may be useful in tackling some of the unsolved problems in non-isothermal rheology.