Influence of thermalization protocol on Poiseuille flow of confined soft glass

Using extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we study how the Poiseuille flow of a model confined soft glass is determined by thermalization protocols. We contrast the steady-state behavior as well as the onset of flow, using two different thermostats, one where the confined glass is directly thermalized, whereas in the other case the glass is thermalized via the confining walls. The latter setup leads to a spatially non-uniform temperature profile within the channel, during flow, which allows for probing the rheological response of the confined glass under this additional perturbation and thereby investigate the deviations from bulk rheology. Finally, we also examine how this response depends upon varying the channel widths. Our study illustrates the competing effects due to the stress gradients, the intrinsic non-local correlations of glassy systems, and the presence or absence of thermal gradients.

Automated summary

Through extensive molecular dynamics simulations, this study investigates how thermalization protocols affect the Poiseuille flow of a model confined soft glass. Different thermalization methods lead to spatially non-uniform temperature profiles, influencing the rheological response of the confined glass and exploring the impact of varying channel widths.