THE MOTION OF RIGID ROD-LIKE PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN NONHOMOGENEOUS FLOW-FIELDS

Equations are written for the velocities of rotation and translation of rigid rod-like particles suspended in arbitrary Stokes flows. These make use of the first approximation from slender body theory for the evaluation of drag forces parallel and transverse to the particle axis, and neglect couples induced by shear stress at the particle surface. They are therefore asymptotically valid as the particle axis ratio becomes large. Simple forms of the equations, applying in constant viscosity flows, are solved, where possible analytically and otherwise numerically, and results obtained for particle motion in planar Poiseuille and sink flows. These are discussed and displayed in terms of appropriate dimensionless groups in a comprehensive set of plots, that can conveniently be used to provide information on translational and rotational velocities, and orientation and displacement as a function of time, including particle slip along and across streamlines, for a wide range of cases. In this way the effects of non-homogeneity in the flow fields are quantified.