Sedimentation of Two Side-by-Side Heavy Particles of Different Density in a Shear-Thinning Fluid with Viscoelastic Properties

Particle sedimentation has widely existed in nature and engineering fields, and most carrier fluids are non-Newtonian. Recently, the manipulation of a settling particle in liquid has been a topic of high interest to those involved in engineered processes such as composite materials, pharmaceutical manufacture, chemistry and the petroleum industry. Compared with Newtonian fluid, the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluid is closely related to the shear rate, leading to a single settling particle having different dynamic behaviors. In this article, the trajectories and velocities of two side-by-side particles of different densities (heavy and light) settling in a shear-thinning fluid with viscoelastic property were studied, as well as that for the corresponding single settling particle. Regardless of the difference in the particle density, the results show the two-way coupling interaction between the two side-by-side settling particles. As opposed to a single settling particle, the wake of the heavier particle can clearly attract or rebound the light particle due to the shear-thinning or viscoelastic property of the fluid. Regarding the trajectories of the light particle, three basic path types were found: (i) the light particle is first attracted and then repelled by the wake of the heavy one; (ii) the light particle approaches and then largely traces within the path of the heavy one in the limited field of view; (iii) the light particle is first slightly shifted away from its original position and then returns to this initial position. In addition to this, due to the existence of a corridor of reduced viscosity and negative wake generated by the viscoelastic property, the settling velocity of a light particle can exceed the terminal velocity of a single particle of the same density. On the other hand, the sedimentation of the light particle can induce the distinguishable transverse migration of the heavy one.