Sedimentation of particles through quiescent suspensions

Studies of falling-ball rheometry in concentrated suspensions, embodying a combination of analysis experiment, and numerical simulation, are discussed. Experiments involve tracking small balls falling slowly through otherwise quiescent suspensions of neutrally buoyant particles. A theory has been developed relating the average ball velocity to the macroscopic suspension viscosity, and, for dilute suspensions, agreement is obtained with Einstein's sheared suspension viscosity. Detailed trajectories of the balls, obtained either with new experimental techniques or by numerical simulation, are statistically interpreted in terms of the mean settling velocity and the dispersion about that mean. We show that falling-ball rheometry, using small balls relative to the suspended particles, can be a means of measuring the macroscopic zero-shear viscosity without disturbing the original microstructure significantly; therefore, falling-ball rheometry can be a powerful tool to study the effects of microstructure on the macroscopic properties of suspensions. 25 refs