The effect of weak Brownian rotations on particles in shear flow

Abstract

Axisymmetric particles in zero Reynolds number shear flow execute closed orbits. In this paper we consider the role of small Brownian couples in establishing a steady-state probability distribution for a particle being on any particular orbit. After presenting the basic equations, we derive an expression for the equilibrium distribution. This result is then used to calculate some bulk properties for a suspension of such particles, and these predicted properties are compared with available experimental observation.