Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
08:19
Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
Interaction of spheres in oscillatory fluid flows
D Klotsa1, Michael R Swift, R M Bowley
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|February 1, 2008
Summary
Spheres in vibrating fluids align perpendicularly to motion, forming a gap due to attraction and repulsion. This particle behavior depends on fluid viscosity and vibration parameters.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Particle physics
- Soft matter physics
Background:
- Fluid-mediated interactions between particles are crucial in various scientific fields.
- Understanding particle self-assembly in oscillating flows can reveal fundamental physical principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the self-assembly behavior of rigid spherical particles in oscillating fluid flows.
- To analyze the formation of particle structures and the forces governing their interactions.
Main Methods:
- Experiments using stainless steel spheres in glycerol-water mixtures with varying viscosities.
- Varying oscillation frequencies and amplitudes in horizontal vibration.
- Numerical simulations using a Navier-Stokes solver to model particle interactions and fluid flow.
Main Results:
- Spheres align at right angles to the oscillation direction, forming an equilibrium gap.
- The gap results from a balance between long-range attraction and short-range repulsion.
- Gap size is dependent on fluid viscosity and vibratory parameters, exhibiting two scaling regimes.
Conclusions:
- Rigid spheres exhibit unique self-assembly in oscillating fluids, driven by fluid-mediated forces.
- The observed particle alignment and gap formation are predictable based on system parameters.
- This study provides insights into particle dynamics and interactions in complex fluid environments.
More Related Videos
10:28Experimental Measurement of Settling Velocity of Spherical Particles in Unconfined and Confined Surfactant-based Shear Thinning Viscoelastic Fluids
Published on: January 3, 2014
08:49Impacts of Free-falling Spheres on a Deep Liquid Pool with Altered Fluid and Impactor Surface Conditions
Published on: February 17, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:20Stokes' Law
Viscous forces, like friction, are intermolecular forces that resist the relative motion of molecules over each other. When a solid body moves through a liquid, viscous forces drag it in the opposite direction. The force's magnitude depends on the solid's shape and size, as well as its speed and the liquid's coefficient of viscosity, density and temperature.
The expression for the force on a solid spherical object in a fluid is called Stokes' law. Stokes' law is valid only for low Reynolds...
The expression for the force on a solid spherical object in a fluid is called Stokes' law. Stokes' law is valid only for low Reynolds...
01:15Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics
Dimensionless groups in fluid mechanics provide simplified ratios that help analyze fluid behavior without relying on specific units. The Reynolds number (Re), which represents the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, distinguishes between laminar and turbulent flows, making it essential in the design of pipelines and aerodynamic surfaces. The Froude number (Fr), the ratio of inertial to gravitational forces, is particularly useful in predicting wave formation and hydraulic jumps in...
01:23Steady, Laminar Flow in Circular Tubes
Hagen-Poiseuille flow describes a viscous fluid's steady, incompressible flow through a cylindrical tube with a constant radius R. This flow profile is often applied to understand fluid transport in narrow channels, such as capillaries. It serves as a foundational example of laminar flow. In this model, cylindrical coordinates (r,θ,z) are used to describe the radial (r), angular (θ), and axial (z) dimensions within the tube. For Hagen-Poiseuille flow, the velocity profile is purely axial,...
01:19Viscosity of Fluid
Viscosity measures the resistance a fluid offers to flow and deformation. It results from internal friction between layers of fluid moving relative to one another. Dynamic viscosity, denoted by the Greek letter mu (μ), quantifies the force needed to move one fluid layer over another. For Newtonian fluids like water and air, the relationship between the shearing stress and the rate of shearing strain is linear, meaning their viscosity remains constant regardless of the applied stress.
01:11Pressure Variation in a Fluid at Rest
In a fluid at rest, the pressure at any point beneath the fluid surface depends solely on the depth, not on the container's shape or size. This principle, known as hydrostatic pressure, arises because, in stationary fluids, there is no acceleration, meaning the forces within the fluid balance out. Only vertical forces, caused by the weight of the fluid above, contribute to pressure changes with depth.
When measuring pressure at two different levels within the fluid, the difference in pressure...
When measuring pressure at two different levels within the fluid, the difference in pressure...
01:14Pressure of Fluids
There are many examples of pressure in fluids in everyday life, such as in relation to blood (high or low blood pressure) and in relation to weather (high- and low-pressure weather systems). A given force can have a significantly different effect, depending on the area over which the force is exerted. For instance, a force applied to an area of 1 mm2 has a pressure that is 100 times greater than the same force applied to an area of 1 cm2. That's why a sharp needle is able to poke through skin...