The effect of Brownian motion on the rheological properties of a suspension of non-spherical particles

Abstract

The effect of rotary Brownian motion on the rheology of a dilute suspension of rigid spheroids in shear flow is considered for various limiting cases of the particle aspect ratio r and dimensionless shear rate γ/D. As a preliminary the probability distribution function is calculated for the orientation of a single, axisymmetric particle in steady shear flow, assuming small particle Reynolds number. The result for the case of weak-shear flows, γ/D [Lt ] 1, has been known for many years. After briefly reviewing this limiting case, we present expressions for the case of strong shear where (r³ + r⁻³) [Lt ] γ/D, and for an intermediate regime relevant for extreme aspect ratios where 1 [Lt ] γ/D [Lt ] (r³ + r⁻³). The bulk stress is then calculated for these cases, as well as the case of nearly spherical particles r ∼ 1, which has not hitherto been discussed in detail. Various non-Newtonian features of the suspension rheology are discussed in terms of prior continuum mechanical and experimental results.