Extensional flow of a viscoelastic filament governed by the FENE-CR model

A thin filament model is used to analyze the extensional flow of a viscoelastic thread governed by the FENE-CR model. The problem is solved numerically by finite differences using a third-order upwind scheme in space and a second order Runge–Kutta scheme in time. The behavior of the filament is controlled by the competing effects of surface tension and axial normal stresses which are characterized in terms of three-dimensional groups, the Deborah number De, the extensibility parameter L and the capillary number Ca. Surface tension has a destabilizing effect causing the filament to thin in the mid-section leading to a rupture. On the other hand normal stresses tend to stabilize the filament. If axial normal stresses are sufficiently large the filament deforms almost uniaxially due to strain hardening.