Concentration and velocity patterns in a horizontal rotating suspension of non-Brownian settling particles

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2005 Mar;71(3 Pt 1):031401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.71.031401. Epub 2005 Mar 22.

Abstract

We report a systematic experimental study of concentration and velocity patterns formed in a horizontal rotating cylinder filled completely with a monodisperse suspension of non-Brownian settling particles. The system shows a series of concentration and velocity patterns, or phases, with varying rotation rate and solvent viscosity. Individual phases are studied using both side and cross-sectional imaging to examine the detailed flow structures. The overall phase diagram of the system is mapped out as a function of the rotation rate and solvent viscosity. Attempts are made to analyze the functional form of the phase boundaries in order to understand the transition mechanism between different phases.