Particle dispersion in sheared suspensions: Crucial role of solid-solid contacts

Phong Pham (1, 2) , Bloen Metzger (1) , Jason E. Butler (2)

1 IUSTI - Institut universitaire des systèmes thermiques industriels
2 UF|CHE - Department of Chemical Engineering [Gainesville]

We performed high resolution measurements of the dynamics of non-Brownian and neutrally buoyant particles subjected to a periodic shear flow under low Reynolds number conditions. By changing the particle roughness and showing that it significantly affects the particle motion, we provide direct evidence that particle solid-solid contacts occur in viscous suspensions and strongly influence the particle dynamics. An accurate prediction of the particle trajectories is obtained with a minimal model that solely includes normal lubrication interactions and a frictionless contact force.

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]

Phong Pham, Bloen Metzger, Jason E. Butler. Particle dispersion in sheared suspensions: Crucial role of solid-solid contacts. Physics of Fluids, 2015, 27 (5), pp.051701. ⟨10.1063/1.4919728⟩. ⟨hal-01442048⟩