Exploring Microscale Phenomena With the µPIVOT (µPIV and Optical Tweezers)

The hydrodynamic interaction between particles contributes significantly to the rheological properties of many suspensions [1] regardless if the suspending fluid is Newtonian or non-Newtonian. While the theoretical framework for particle-particle interactions in Newtonian fluids is well established, theoretical analysis of particle-fluid and particle-particle interactions in non-Newtonian fluids is limited due to difficulties in establishing a proper constitutive equation for non-Newtonian fluids. The direct study of particle-particle interactions will resolve the hydrodynamic forces between suspended particles, aid the development of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid suspension models, and provide experimental validation of existing models.© 2008 ASME