Shear-transformation-zone theory of yielding in athermal amorphous materials
Yielding transitions in athermal amorphous materials undergoing steady-state shear flow resemble critical phenomena. Historically, they have been described by the Herschel-Bulkley rheological formula, which implies singular behaviors at yield points. In this paper, I examine this class of phenomena using an elementary version of the thermodynamic shear-transformation-zone (STZ) theory, focusing on the role of the effective disorder temperature, and paying special attention to scaling and dimensional arguments. I find a wide variety of Herschel-Bulkley-like rheologies but, for fundamental reasons not specific to the STZ theory, conclude that the yielding transition is not truly critical. Specifically, for realistic many-body models with short-range interactions, there is a correlation length that grows rapidly but ultimately saturates near the yield point.
- Publication Date:
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725; AC05-00OR-22725
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 92; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1539-3755
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Research Org:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1223678
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1198731