Fluctuations and stratification in sedimentation of dilute suspensions of spheres

Daniel Chehata Gomez (1) , Laurence Bergougnoux (1) , Elisabeth Guazzelli (1) , E. John Hinch (2)

1 IUSTI - Institut universitaire des systèmes thermiques industriels
2 DAMTP - Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

We have tested in experiments and simulations whether stratification can control velocity fluctuations in suspensions of sedimenting spheres. The initial value and early decay of the velocity fluctuations are not affected by stratification. On the other hand, in the descending front where the stratification is strong and well defined, the velocity fluctuations are inhibited according to a previously proposed scaling. In between, after the initial decay and before the arrival of the front, the local value of the stratification does not always play a role.

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

Daniel Chehata Gomez, Laurence Bergougnoux, Elisabeth Guazzelli, E. John Hinch. Fluctuations and stratification in sedimentation of dilute suspensions of spheres. Physics of Fluids, 2009, pp.093304. ⟨10.1063/1.3231834⟩. ⟨hal-01066996⟩