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Speeding up of Sedimentation under Confinement

S. Heitkam, Y. Yoshitake, F. Toquet, D. Langevin, and A. Salonen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 178302 – Published 24 April 2013
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Abstract

We show an increase of the sedimentation velocity as small particles are confined in circular capillaries. In general, confinement slows down sedimentation. But, we show that at low Reynolds numbers and in 1D confinement this is not the case. Particle sedimentation velocity is not homogeneous, which can lead to the formation of structures. These structures are enhanced and stabilized in the presence of walls and in the absence of other dissipative mechanisms. As a consequence, it is possible to achieve sedimentation velocities that even exceed the Stokes velocity. The segregation at critical capillary diameters has been directly observed using a large scale model. These simple experiments offer a new insight into the old problem of sedimentation under confinement.

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  • Received 3 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.178302

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. Heitkam1,2, Y. Yoshitake1,3, F. Toquet1, D. Langevin1, and A. Salonen1

  • 1Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, UMR 8502, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
  • 2Institut für Strömungsmechanik, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
  • 3Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2188, Japan

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Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 17 — 26 April 2013

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