Emergence of rheological properties in lattice Boltzmann simulations of gyroid mesophases

Abstract

We use a lattice Boltzmann (LB) kinetic scheme for modelling amphiphilic fluids that correctly predicts rheological effects in flow. No macroscopic parameters are included in the model. Instead, three-dimensional hydrodynamic and rheological effects are emergent from the underlying particulate conservation laws and interactions. We report evidence of shear thinning and viscoelastic flow for a self-assembled gyroid mesophase. This purely kinetic approach is of general importance for the modelling and simulation of complex fluid flows in situations when rheological properties cannot be predicted {\em a priori}.