Influence of humidity on granular packings with moving walls

A significant dependence on the relative humidity H for the apparent mass (Mapp) measured at the bottom of a granular packing inside a vertical tube in relative motion is demonstrated experimentally. While the predictions of Janssen's model are verified for all values of H investigated (25%< H <80%), Mapp increases with time towards a limiting value at high relative humidities (H>60%) but remains constant at lower ones (H=25%). The corresponding Janssen length is nearly independent of the tube velocity for H>60% but decreases markedly for H=25%. Other differences are observed on the motion of individual beads in the packing. For H=25%, they are almost motionless while the mean particle fraction of the packing remains constant; for H>60% the bead motion is much more significant and the mean particle fraction decreases. The dependence of these results on the bead diameter and their interpretation in terms of the influence of capillary forces are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Pulse dynamics in low-Reynolds-number interfacial hydrodynamics: Experiments and theory

a b s t r a c t We analyze interaction of nonlinear pulses in active-dispersive-dissipative nonlinear media. A particular example of such media is a viscous thin film coating a vertical fibre. Experiments for this system reveal that the interface evolves into a train of droplike solitary pulses in which numerous inelastic coalescence events take place. In such events, larger pulses catch up with smaller ones and annihilate them. However, for certain flow conditions and after a certain distance from the inlet, no more coalescence is observed and the flow is described by quasi-equilibrium solitary pulses interacting continuously with each other through attractions and repulsions, and, eventually they form bound states of groups of pulses in which the pulses travel with the same velocities as a whole. This experimental study represents the first evidence of formation of bound states in low-Reynolds-number interfacial hydrodynamics. To gain theoretical insight into the interaction of the pulses and formation of bound states, we derive a weakly nonlinear model for the flow, the generalized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky (gKS) equation, that retains the fundamental mechanisms of the wave evolution, namely, dominant nonlinearity, instability, stability and dispersion. Much like in the experiments, the spatio-temporal evolution of the gKS equation is dominated by quasistationary solitary pulses which continuously interact with each other through coalescence events or attractions/repulsions. To understand the latter case, we utilize a weak-interaction theory for the solitary pulses of the gKS equation. The theory is based on representing the solution of the equation as a superposition of the pulses and an overlap function and leads to a coupled system of ordinary differential equations describing the evolution of the locations of the pulses, or, alternatively, the evolution of the separation distances. By analyzing the fixed points of this system, we obtain bound states of interacting pulses. For two pulses, we provide a criterion for the existence of a countable infinite or finite number of bound states, depending on the strength of the dispersive term in the equation. The interaction theory and resulting bound states are corroborated by computations of the full equation. We also find qualitative agreement between the theory and the experiments

Structural anisotropy of directionally dried colloids

Aqueous colloidal dispersions of silica particles become anisotropic when they are dried through evaporation. This anisotropy is generated by a uniaxial strain of the liquid dispersions as they are compressed by the flow of water toward a solidification front. Part of the strain produced by the compression is relaxed, and part of it is stored and transferred to the solid. This stored elastic strain has consequences for the properties of the solid, where it may facilitate the growth of shear bands, and generate birefringence

Drying colloidal systems: laboratory models for a wide range of applications

The drying of complex fluids provides a powerful insight into phenomena that take place on time and length scales not normally accessible. An important feature of complex fluids, colloidal dispersions and polymer solutions is their high sensitivity to weak external actions. Thus, the drying of complex fluids involves a large number of physical and chemical processes. The scope of this review is the capacity to tune such systems to reproduce and explore specific properties in a physics laboratory. A wide variety of systems are presented, ranging from functional coatings, food science, cosmetology, medical diagnostics and forensics to geophysics and art

Elapsed time for crack formation during drying

The drying of colloidal films usually leads to mechanical instabilities that affect the uniformity of the final deposit. The resulting patterns are the signature of the mechanical stress, and reveal the way the system consolidates. We report experimental results on the crack patterns induced by the drying of sessile drops of concentrated dispersions. Crack patterns exhibit a well-defined spatial order, and a regular temporal periodicity. In addition, the onset of cracking occurs after a well-defined elapsed time that depends on the mechanical properties of the gel, and on the drying kinetics. The estimation of the time elapsed before cracks form is related to the elastic properties of the material. This is supported by quantitative measurements using indentation testing and by a simple scaling law derived from poro-elastic theory

Drying drops

The drying of complex fluids involves a large number of microscopic phenomena (transport and organization of non-volatile solutes) as well as hydrodynamic and mechanical instabilities. These phenomena can be captured in drying sessile drops where different domains can be identified: strong concentration gradients, formation of a glassy or porous envelope that withstands mechanical stress, and consolidation of a layer strongly adhering to the substrate at the drop edge. In colloidal systems, we quantify the evolution of the particle volume fraction at a nanometric scale and microscopic scale and identify the conditions for the envelope formation at the free surface by balancing the effect of diffusion and evaporation. When a solid envelope is formed at a drop surface, the mechanical instabilities induced by the drying result in different drop shapes. Finally, large drying stresses build up in the solid layer adhering on the substrate, and possibly cause crack formation. In particular, we study how crack patterns are affected by the contact angle of drops and the drying conditions. A particular interest of the review is devoted to drying pattern of solutes

Surface patterns in drying films of silica colloidal dispersions

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Annular cracks in thin films of nanoparticle suspensions drying on a fiber

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The buckling and invagination process during consolidation of colloidal droplets

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