Preferential Concentration of Free-Falling Heavy Particles in Turbulence
Florencia Falkinhoff, Martín Obligado, Mickaël Bourgoin, Pablo D. Mininni
Abstract
We present a sweep-stick mechanism for heavy particles transported by a turbulent flow under the action of gravity. Direct numerical simulations show that these particles preferentially explore regions of the flow with close to zero Lagrangian acceleration. However, the actual Lagrangian acceleration of the fluid elements where particles accumulate is not zero, and has a dependence on the Stokes number, the gravity acceleration, and the settling velocity of the particles.
Topics & Concepts
SettlingAccelerationTurbulencePhysicsMechanicsStokes numberFalling (accident)Flow (mathematics)LagrangianGravitational accelerationStokes flowClassical mechanicsGravitationThermodynamicsReynolds numberMedicineMathematical physicsEnvironmental healthParticle Dynamics in Fluid FlowsFluid Dynamics and Turbulent FlowsGranular flow and fluidized beds