Journal of Statistical Physics. Vol. 62, Nos. 5/6, 1991. p. 1255-1266.
Dumbbell models are only crude representations of actual polymer molecules, but their simplicity allows for explicit calculations which in many instances have shed light on the connection between molecular properties and rheological behavior. On the other hand, hydrodynamic interactions are known to strongly influence the dynamic response of polymer solutions and this makes the representation of the hydrodynamic drag an important aspect in the calculations. In the present work, the effects of the state of flow are incorporated explicitly in the frictional properties of the FENE model of a dilute polymer solution. Results for the steady elongational viscosity and the mean square end-to-end distance are presented.