The addition of macromolecules to solvent, even in dilute quantities, can significantly alter a fluid's response in an extensional, or stretching, flow. When high-molecular-weight polymers are extended in solution, extensional thickening can result, yielding viscosities that are orders of magnitude larger than values found in shear. Examples of applications where...
Whale blubber is the insular tissue layer located between the dermis and the superficial fascia layer which sheathes the whale's musculature. It is made up of a lipid matrix ramified with strong, structural collagen and elastic fiber bundles, but little is known of its mechanical properties. Knowing these properties adds...