We analyze the steady planar shear flow of the modified Johnson-Segalman model, which has an added nonlocal term. We find that the new term allows for unambiguous selection of the stress at which two “phases” coexist, in contrast to the original model. For general differential constitutive models we show the singular nature of stress selection in terms of a saddle connection between fixed points in the equivalent dynamical system. The result means that stress selection is unique under most conditions for space nonlocal models. Finally, illustrated by simple models, we show that stress selection generally depends on the form of the nonlocal terms (weak universality).

• Received 10 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.642