Shear banding in a simulated telechelic polymeric gel*

We report on the rheological properties of telechelic polymers through computer simulations.\footnote{Baljon et al., J. Chem. Phys. 126, 044907 (2007).} Such polymers show Newtonian behavior at low shear rate, followed by a non-Newtonian shear thinning regime. In this non-Newtonian regime, experiments as well as simulations show shear banding; two bands with different shear rate exist. The stress versus shear rate shows a plateau. When looking at the stress versus time, rheochaotical fluctuations are observed. These fluctuations are believed to be caused by microscopic shear-induced structural changes.\footnote{Sprakel et al., Phys. Rev. E. 79, 056306 (2009).} We report on these microstructural changes and on how they correlate with stress fluctuations.