Rate dependence and role of disorder in linearly sheared two-dimensional foams

Abstract

The shear flow of two-dimensional foams is probed as a function of shear rate and disorder. Disordered, bidisperse foams exhibit strongly shear rate dependent velocity profiles. This behavior is captured quantitatively in a simple model based on the balance of the time-averaged drag forces in the system, which are found to exhibit power-law scaling with the foam velocity and strain rate. Disorder makes the scaling of the bulk drag forces different from that of the local interbubble drag forces, which we evidence by rheometrical measurements. In monodisperse, ordered foams, rate independent velocity profiles are found, which lends further credibility to this picture. © 2008 The American Physical Society.