Title: Sedimentation of a suspension of fibers

Description: This movie shows the sedimentation of a suspension of fibers in a test tube at low Reynolds number. The sedimentation of fibers is qualitatively different than that of spheres, as there is a structural instability. The experiment shows that the suspension is indeed unstable. Packets of fibers form and organize into downward streamers. As a result, the front is much more diffuse that it would otherwise be.

Credits: B. Metzger, E. Guazzelli

References: Herzhaft, B., and Guazzelli, E.
"Experimental study of the sedimentation of dilute and semi-dilute suspensions of fibres," J. Fluid Mech.
384, 1999, 133-158


Metzger, B., Butler, J.E., and Guazzelli, E.
"Experimental investigation of the instability of a sedimenting suspension of fibres," J. Fluid Mech.
575, 2007, 307-332

Web Page: http://iusti.polytech.univ-mrs.fr/~gep/sedimentation.html

Contributed By: B. Metzger, E. Guazzelli