Nonlinear Dynamics Seminar

Prof. Sungyon Lee, Texas A&M University

"Coupled dynamics of particles and fluid-fluid interfaces"

1:00pm, RLM 11.204

Abstract: We report a particle-induced fingering instability when a mixture of particles and viscous oil is injected radially into a Hele-Shaw cell. The experimental results show that the onset and characteristics of fingering are most directly affected by the particle volume fraction but also depend on the ratio of the particle to gap size. In particular, the formation and destabilization of a particle band are observed on the interface only when the particle diameter is comparable to the channel gap thickness. The physical mechanism behind the instability and a quantitative model are discussed.