Simulations of dynamics and viscoelasticity in highly entangled solutions of semiflexible rods

Shriram Ramanathan, David C. Morse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brownian dynamics simulations are used to study highly entangled solutions of semiflexible polymers. Bending fluctuations of semiflexible rods are significantly affected by entanglement only above a concentration c**, where c** ∼ 103 L-3 for chains of length L similar to their persistence length. For c> c**, the tube radius Re approaches a dependence Re c-3 5 and the linear viscoelastic response develops an elastic plateau that is absent for c< c**. Experiments on isotropic solutions of F-actin are shown to span concentrations near c** for which the predicted asymptotic scaling of the plateau modulus, G c7 5, is not yet valid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number010501
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume76
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 6 2007

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Simulations of dynamics and viscoelasticity in highly entangled solutions of semiflexible rods'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this