Shear-induced particle migration in one-, two-, and three-dimensional flows

Abstract

We investigate the segregation resulting from the competition between advection and shear-induced migration of suspensions in steady open flows. Herringbone channels form a concentration profile deviating from the particle focusing found in straight channels. Transients can result from a buckling instability during the onset of migration when particle-depleted fluid is injected into particle-rich fluid. In chaotic flows, the better mixing found at low bulk volume fraction is not seen at higher bulk volume fraction. Thus, the ability of static mixers to reduce the effects of shear-induced migration is significantly limited.