Introduction to Rheology

By: Dr. Pawan Singh Takhar

pawan.takhar@ttu.edu

Department of Animal and Food

Sciences
Texas Tech University
 References

Books:
1. Rheological methods in food process
engineering. By: James F. Steffee
2. Viscoelastic properties of polymers. By:
John D. Ferry
3. Food Chemistry. By Fennema
 What is Rheology?
Study of flow and deformation behavior of
materials
Examples:
Liquid Foods:
Flow of water, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad
dressings etc.
Solid Foods:
Creep of apples, grains, cheese etc.
Examples of Rheological Properties
 Viscosity
 Power law parameters
 Elasticity
 Stress relaxation function
 Creep compliance function
 Applications of Rheology
 Geology and mining
 Concrete technology
 Soil mechanics
 Plastics industry
 Tribology (study of lubrication)
 Food industry
Two Extremes of Material Flow
Behavior

Newtonian Liquids

Most Foods

Elastic Solids
 Stress and Strain
Elastic Spring

L
F
Stress,  
A Area, A
L
L
Strain,  
L
Force, F
SI Units of Stress and Strain

Stress: Pa (N/m2)

Strain: ?
 Liquid Foods

Area Force

F
L Stress,  
A
L
h Strain   
h
d
Shear Rate   
dt
 Dynamic Viscosity
Shear stress
• Lack of slipperiness
• Resistance to flow
• Interlayer friction




  Slope of line

SI Unit: Pascal-second Shear rate

1 centi-Poise = milli Pascal-second

Typical Viscosities (Pa.s)

 Asphalt Binder --------------- 100,000

 Polymer Melt ----------------- 1,000
 Molasses ---------------------- 100
 Liquid Honey ----------------- 10
 Glycerol ----------------------- 1
 Olive Oil ----------------------- 0.01
 Water -------------------------- 0.001
 Acetic Acid -------------------- 0.00001

Courtesy: TA Instruments
 Different types of Fluids
sti c
Pl a
n
so
Ca
s
l astic
P
m
g ha
B in
i ng)
n
thin
a r
She
r
(o
Shear stress sti
c
i ng)
la en
d op i c k
eu ia n th
Ps ton e ar
w h
Ne o rS
nt(
a
i lat
D

Non Newtonian
Fluids Shear rate
Newtonian Foods
Shear
stress

Shear rate

Examples:
• Water
• Milk
• Vegetable oils
• Fruit juices
• Sugar and salt solutions
Pseudoplastic (Shear thinning)
Foods
Shear
stress

Shear rate

Examples:
• Applesauce
• Banana puree
• Orange juice concentrate
• Oyster sauce
• CMC solution
Dilatant (Shear thickening) Foods
Shear
stress

Shear rate

Examples:
• Liquid Chocolate
• 40% Corn starch solution
Bingham Plastic Foods
Shear
stress

Shear rate

Examples:
• Tooth paste
• Tomato paste
 Mathematical Model
 Herschel Bulkley
Model:

  K    o
n

K  Similar to vis cos ity

n  Power law parameter
 o  Yield stress
Model parameters for different types of fluids
sti c
Pl a
n
so
Ca
s
l astic
P
m
g ha )
B in g Yield stress?
n in
hin
t
ar 0<n<1

Shear stress ti c
(o
r Sh
e

n=1
o  0
las
o p
e ud n
Ps ia
ton
Ne
w 1<n

Shear rate
  K    o n
 Importance of yield stress
 When stress is less than yield stress,
material does not flow. It behaves like a
solid

Important for development of materials like butter, yogurt,

cheese spread