Shear localisation in interfacial particle layers and its influence on Lissajous-plots

Interfacial rheological measurements often show in their nonlinear Lissajous-plots rhombus or saddle-like shapes indicating complex local deformation behaviour. A strong interacting silica particle and an almost not interacting clay particle were studied in respect to their interfacial rheological properties. Large amplitude oscillation shear measurements were performed with a bicone geometry and combined with optical measurements, from which particle tracks were calculated. A correlation was found between the appearance of shear localisation and Lissajous-plot shapes. Silica particles showed shear localisation at the bicone edge and rhombic plateaus in the Lissajous-plot, while the shear localisation for the clay particles was observed at the cup's wall as saddle-like shaped Lissajous-plots.