While the differential approach is well-suited for practical applications, the integral approach is generally used for advanced rheological research. Ansys Polyflow provides several numerical models for viscoelastic flow, including Doi-Edwards and KBKZ. Appropriate choices for the viscoelastic model and related parameters can yield qualitatively and quantitatively accurate representations of viscoelastic behavior.

Information about the models available in Ansys Polyflow and the equations solved for each is presented in Theory and Equations, and instructions for using these models are provided in Problem Setup for Integral Viscoelastic Flows – Additional Hints. Note that the integral approach to modeling viscoelastic flow is limited to 2D flows; it cannot be applied to 3D flows.