Publications Details

Channel Flow of a Concentrated Suspension

Mctigue, David F.

A theory for creeping flow of concentrated suspensions is described that takes into account the fluctuations of particles about their mean motion. The intensity of the velocity fluctuations is characterized by an internal field analogous to the temperature in classical kinetic theories, and governed by a balance law for the fluctuation energy. Explicit forms are posed for the viscosity, conductivity, dissipation, and pressure as functions of the temperature and mean interparticle separation. Approximate solutions are found for the temperature, separation, and mean velocity fields in flow between parallel plates. Qualitative behavior comparable to experimental observations is predicted: particle fluctuations and the mean shearing are confined to a region near the channel wall, while a plug-like region prevails in the center. © 1992 Elsevier B.V.