Title: Free-surface instabilities in a thixotropic fluid

Description: Thixotropy is the characteristic of a fluid to form a gelled structure over time when it is not subjected to shearing, and to liquefy when agitated. Thixotropic fluids are commonly used in the construction industry e.g., self-flowing concrete and drilling fluids, and related applications include some forms of mud flows and debris flows. This photo shows some free-surface instabilities (roll waves like) at the end of a basic experimental study of dam break wave with a bentonite suspension down a 15 degree channel [1,2,3]. During the clean up, some fluid was pushed over the arrested thixotropic fluid and formed these instabilities.

Credits: Hubert Chanson

References: [1] CHANSON, H., JARNY, S., and COUSSOT, P. (2006). "Dam Break Wave of Thixotropic Fluid." Journal of Hydraulic Engrg., ASCE, Vol. 132, No. 3, pp. 280-293 (ISSN 0733-9429). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:78856}
[2] CHANSON, H. JARNY, S., TOCQUER, L., and COUSSOT, P. (2004). "An Experimental Study of Sudden Release of Bentonite Suspensions down an Inclined Chute." Proc. 15th Australasian Fluid Mech. Conf., AFMC, Sydney, Australia, M. BEHNIA, W. LIN & G.D. McBAIN Ed., Paper AFMC00252, 4 pages (CD-ROM) (ISBN 1-864-87695-6). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9429}
[3] CHANSON, H., COUSSOT, P., JARNY, S., and TOQUER, L. (2004). "A Study of Dam Break Wave of Thixotropic Fluid: Bentonite Surges down an Inclined Plane." Report No. CH54/04, Dept. of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, June, 90 pages (ISBN 1864997710). {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view.php?pid=UQ:9437}

Web Page: http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view.php?pid=UQ:9437

Contributed By: Hubert Chanson