Cluster glass-phase ring suspensions exposed to weak shear stress exhibit a stable reorientation of stacks as well as of individual ring polymers with the flow direction and into the flow-vorticity plane. The suspension features shear thinning for a variety of different densities as a result. Under strong shear, a breakup of these clusters takes place, accompanied by a subsequent homogenization of the distribution of centers-of-mass of rings, though their orientational preference is maintained. The flow properties of the system are determined by an interplay between the deformability of the constituent particles of the rings and the response of the anisotropic clusters to shear. We employ mesoscopic simulations to investigate and quantify this behavior as well as to provide an explanation for the underlying mechanism, and we show our findings are qualitatively independent of the consideration or disregard of hydrodynamic interactions. After cessation of shear, the system displays strong memory as regards the stack orientation, although individual rings relax into their equilibrium orientation. Potential applications include the possibility to tune the mechanical properties of the material via molecular architecture and rigidity, as well as the flexibility in creating persisting anisotropies in the material as a result of applied shear.

中文翻译：

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剪切诱导的环状聚合物簇玻璃中的堆叠取向和破裂

暴露于弱剪切应力下的团簇玻璃相环悬浮液在流动方向和流动涡度平面内均显示出堆栈以及单个环聚合物的稳定重定向。悬浮液具有剪切稀化的功能，因此具有各种不同的密度。在强剪切作用下，尽管保持了取向优先，但这些团簇发生破裂，随后环的质心分布均匀化。系统的流动特性由环的组成颗粒的可变形性与各向异性团簇对剪切的响应之间的相互作用决定。我们使用介观模拟来调查和量化这种行为，并提供对潜在机制的解释，并且我们证明了我们的发现在质量上与水动力相互作用的考虑或忽略无关。停止剪切后，尽管各个环松弛到其平衡方向，但该系统在堆栈方向方面显示出强大的记忆力。潜在的应用包括通过分子结构和刚性来调节材料的机械性能的可能性，以及由于施加剪切力而在材料中产生持久各向异性的灵活性。