Mechanics of polydisperse suspensions

This work describes the results of numerical simulations for polydisperse sedimentation of equal sized spheres, e.g. particles of different density. Using the stokesian dynamics algorithm, mobility matrices are computed for random particle configurations and ensemble averages taken to calculate the mean mobility matrices. It is shown that the settling velocities of individual particle species may be expressed (4.39) in terms of two scalar functions of total volume fraction. These are the self mobility M$\sb{\rm o}$ (eq. short time self diffusion coefficient) and the interaction mobility M$\sb{\rm I}$. This latter tensor is related to the velocity of a force free tracer particle in a suspension of identical particle subjected to a unit force. Numerical values for M$\sb{\rm o}$ and M$\sb{\rm I}$ are calculated for a range of volume fractions from $\phi$ = 0.025 to 0.55. All results show excellent agreement with the dilute theory of Batchelor (1982). Simple algebraic expressions are given which well correlate the numerical results.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Revay, Joseph Michael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Higdon, Jonathan J.L.

• Engineering, Chemical

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1992 Revay, Joseph Michael

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9215876
(UMI)AAI9215876

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21585