Structural Similarity and Transition from Newtonian to Non-Newtonian Behavior for Clay-Water Suspensions

Abstract

Clay-water suspensions are shear-thinning yield stress fluids whose apparent viscosity increases with solid fraction. It is shown experimentally that, in a wide solid fraction range, their behavior is similar and goes through a transition from non-Newtonian to Newtonian when a nondimensional shear rate increases.