Chain-configuration and rate dependent rheological properties in transient networks

System parameters and steady-state convergence criteria For purposes of this work, a mesh size of was used. Steady state equilibrium was determined using the less stringent of the two error criteria as defined below: \* MERGEFORMAT (1) \* MERGEFORMAT (2) The time step used was determined using the maximum value of the FENE force relative to the spatial discretization and rounded for convenience. The equations used are derived from the Smoluchowski equation for convection and diffusion. In order to validate the numerical methodology and results used in this work, the results for a dangling chain in steady and oscillatory shear flow were compared to the results of the upper-convected Maxwell Model solved for the aforementioned cases. The spring potential was changed from a finitely extensible (FENE) spring to a Hookean spring.