Stress versus strain controlled shear: Yielding and relaxation of concentrated colloidal suspensions.

In rheological experiments, the relationship between stress and strain is determined. In the transient regime, this relationship may depend on which of these properties is applied and which is measured. In general, data collected using one or the other as the control parameter are not necessarily equivalent. Moreover, the assumed steady state and the relaxation following this state might depend on whether stress or strain has been applied. We examined colloidal suspensions with concentrations around the glass transition and compared their response to stress and strain, in particular, their transient response after the start-up of shear, their steady state, and their relaxation after cessation of shear. After the start-up of shear, the transient behavior was found to significantly depend on whether the sample is exposed to a constant shear rate or a constant stress. Nevertheless, the transients lead to a rheological steady state that is independent of how it is reached, as long as yielding occurred and the corresponding shear rate or stress is applied. After cessation of shear, the relaxation under strain and stress control shows both similarities and differences. This is quantified based on, e.g., the hydrodynamic, Brownian, and residual stress as well as the recovered strain. In addition, the responses of the rheometers to the abrupt changes have been characterized. The corresponding technical data are presented and taken into account in the data interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]