Abstract
We present the results of computer simulation for the steady shear flows of rodlike molecules using nonequi-librium molecular dynamics simulation (NEMD) method. The model particle is a rigid rod composed of lin-early connected 6-sites and the Lennard-Jones 12-6 potential governs interactions between sites in different molecules. The system of rodlike molecules exhibits the change of orientational structure, that is, isotropic-nematic transition at high shear rates. We elucidate the nature of the ordered system developed from an isotro-pic phase by steady shear through an analysis of various quantities: orientational order parameters, orientational pair correlation functions, orientational distribution function, and snapshots of configurations. The effects of temperature and density on the shear rate dependence of orientational structure are described.