Constitutive equations for polymer fluids based on the concept of configuration-dependent molecular mobility: a generalized mean-configuration model

After a brief outline of the concept of configuration-dependent molecular mobility for the particular case of the one-mode mean-configuration theory, a generalized model is introduced in which the dependence of the mobility tensor on the configuration tensor is given by a relaxation-type functional. This model is analysed for steady and transient extensional and shear flows. In extensional flow it predicts a maximum in the steady-state uniaxial viscosity curves and stress overshoot in the stressing curves, and in shear flow it predicts even larger stress overshoot in the stressing curves. This model bridges the gap between the current molecular models and the most elaborate network models. In an appendix it is shown that for the relaxation-type dependence of the mobility it is only by using the upper Oldroyd derivative that physically acceptable results are predicted.