Nematic phase of rodlike polymers. II. Polydomain predictions in the tumbling regime

The two‐dimensional model previously considered is here used to obtain predictions in the complex situation of the tumbling regime which prevails at low shear rates. Although each domain is permanently in a time‐dependent, periodic regime, the macroscopic response can be stationary in time because of the well‐known polydomain structure. First, the average steady rheological response for this situation is calculated by taking a polydomain structure which neglects interdomain interactions. Although the steady state predictions thus obtained favorably compare with the experimental results throughout the range of shear rates, the transient start‐up responses do not, because of the crucial role played by the interactions in such a case. These interactions, due to Frank elasticity, are then introduced in the model in the simplest possible way, i.e., by use of a mean field potential. Under this assumption, also the predictions of transient behavior in the tumbling regime show the correct qualitative features.