Inertial torque on a small spheroid in a stationary uniform flow
F. Jiang, L. Zhao, H. I. Andersson, K. Gustavsson, A. Pumir, B. Mehlig
Abstract
How anisotropic particles rotate and orient in a flow depends on the hydrodynamic torque they experience. The torque acting on a small spheroid in a uniform flow is computed by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations. Overall, the numerical results provide a justification of recent theories for the orientation statistics of ice crystals settling in cold clouds.
Topics & Concepts
TorqueMechanicsPhysicsFlow (mathematics)Classical mechanicsInertial frame of referenceFictitious forceSpheroidPotential flowOrientation (vector space)AnisotropySettlingInertiaWork (physics)Inviscid flowComputer simulationMathematicsNumerical analysisMathematical analysisParticle Dynamics in Fluid FlowsMicro and Nano RoboticsFluid dynamics and aerodynamics studies