Tutorial: Introduction to Rheology Fundamentals

The IRIS graphics platform, and its many rheology modules attached, had its beginning at a graduate rheology course at the

University of Massachusetts Amherst;   CHE 757, PSE 757, Professor H. Henning Winter,

with the purpose of accessing rheological material functions and models.

Free access to lectures:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-lPlukdqhLIpGz_l7TqFXEbfHHpolTn6

https://space.bilibili.com/1594136529/lists/4559640?type=season

Syllabus

Lecture 01 - Overview of Rheology Course; Rheological Phenomena

Lecture 02 - Rheological Phenomena, Die Flow

Lecture 03 - Definition of Stress and Strain Tensors

Lecture 04 - Examples of Stress and Strain Tensors

Lecture 05 - Stress and Strain Tensor Properties

Lecture 06 - Transient and Steady Shear Flow

Lecture 07 - Shear and Extensional Flow, Temperature Shift, Capillary Flow

Lecture 08 - Capillary and Rotational Shear Rheometers

Lecture 09 - Extensional Rheometry, Linear viscoelasticity

Lecture 10 - Boltzmann Equation, Time-Temperature Superposition, Cox-Merz, Booij-Palmen, Gleissle

Lecture 11 - Relaxation Time Spectrum, Parsimonious Spectrum

Lecture 12 - Creep and Recovery, Molecular Architecture and BSW Spectrum

Lecture 13 - Macromolecular Architecture Dynamics

Lecture 14 - Rheology of Gelation

Lecture 15 - The Critical Gel

Lecture 16 - Gelation of Large Polymers, Reverse Gelation

Lecture 17 - Near Critical Gels, Flow Induced Mixing of Polymer Blends

Lecture 18 - Shear and Extensional Induced Mixing and Demixing

Lecture 19 - Rheological Constitutive Equations

Lecture 20 - Rheological Constitutive Equations for Finite Strain

Lecture 21 - Rheology of Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Lecture 22 - Rheology of Block Copolymers

A man in a suit and tie giving a presentation with a projected slide. He is pointing to the slide with a stick, casting a shadow on it, while looking to the side.

TUTORIAL: Going All the Way in a Single Day (AWSD)

AWSD philosophy encourages users to treat rheological measurements as a complete scientific workflow. The experiment should not end when the rheometer finishes collecting data. The greatest value comes from immediately combining the measurements with quantitative analysis, clear visualization, and scientific interpretation while the experiment is still fresh in mind. The goal is to extract the information contained in the data and deeply understand what it reveals about the structure, dynamics, and behavior of the material being tested.

The AWSD method consists of three integrated parts:

  • Experiment      Prepare the sample, load it into the rheometer, perform the measurements, and verify that high-quality data have been obtained.

  • Analysis and Visualization        Transfer the data directly onto the IRIS graphics platform for immediate analysis. Determine the relevant rheological parameters, compare the results with appropriate models, and generate informative figures and visual summaries. Well-designed visuals are an essential part of the analysis because they reveal trends, expose unexpected behavior, and communicate results effectively. Analysis tools and procedures are discussed in tutorials below.

  • Interpretation and Next Steps    Use the quantitative results and visualizations to understand the material behavior, evaluate hypotheses, compare with previous experiments, and identify the next experiments or material modifications. Questions that arise during interpretation can often be addressed immediately while the sample, instrument, and experimental conditions are still available.

The AWSD objective is to integrate experiment, analysis, visualization, and interpretation into one continuous workflow. By completing the full cycle on the same day, users gain deeper understanding, make better decisions, and accelerate both research and product development. IRIS is designed to support this integrated approach.

The AWSD objective of IRIS is simple: Go all the way, from experiment to understanding in a single day, directly from Experiment-to-Insight (E2I) .