Mechanical evolution of bubble structure and interactive migration behaviors of two particles in flowing wet foam

Abstract

Multiparticle migration in a wet foam fluid is increasingly found in relevant engineering applications. The microscopic reciprocal influence between the flowing foam and the settling multiparticle has not been fully understood. In this study, we mainly analyze the rheological and mechanical behaviors of this multiphase transport system based on the microscopic structural morphology. The settling behaviors of two particles, as well as the mechanical variation of bubbles influenced by the particles, are mainly explored. We find that the entrance of a bubble into the distance between the two particles positioned vertically causes significantly different bubble pressure components of the drag force for the two particles. In the process of bubble entering the distance, the bubble pressure, as well as the maximum principal stress of the bubble, rises; as the bubble leaves the distance, its pressure and the maximum principal stress decrease. For the two particles positioned horizontally, we mainly analyze the bubble pressure component of the lift force, as well as the pressure evolution of bubbles when the bubble–bubble separation and contact occur in the distance between the particles. This study assists in understanding the microscopic structural and mechanical evolution of wet foam in this multiphase transport system.