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Macrostatistical hydrodynamics

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5295862· OSTI ID:5295862

During the course of these efforts we have been studying suspension of particles in Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids, embodying a combination of analysis, experiments, and numerical simulations. Experiments primarily involved tracking small balls as they fall slowly through otherwise quiescent suspensions of neutrally buoyant particles. Detailed trajectories of the balls, obtained either with new experimental techniques or by numerical simulation, were statistically interpreted in terms of the mean settling velocity and the dispersion about the mean. We showed that falling-ball rheometry, using small balls relative to the suspended particles, could be a means of measuring the macroscopic zero-shear-rate viscosity without significantly disturbing the original microstructure; therefore, falling-ball rheometry can be a powerful tool for use in studying the effects of microstructures on the macroscopic properties of suspensions. We plan to extend this work to the study of more complex, structured fluids, and to use other tools (e.g., rolling-ball rheometry) to study boundary effects. We also propose to study flowing suspensions to obtain non-zero-shear-rate viscosities. The intent is to develop an understanding of the basic principles needed to treat generic multiphase flow problems, through a detailed study of model systems. 8 refs.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-88ER13896
OSTI ID:
5295862
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13896-4; ON: DE92013589
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English