The drag on a cloud of spherical particles in low Reynolds number flow

Abstract

A formula for the drag exerted on a cloud of spherical particles of a given particle size distribution in low Reynolds number flow is derived. It is found that the drag experienced by a particle depends only on the first three moments of the distribution function. A treatment of viscous interaction between N particles to the lowest order is carried out systematically. By appealing to the concept of ‘randomness’ of the particle cloud, equations describing the averaged properties of the fluid motion are derived. The averages are formed over a statistical ensemble of particle configurations. These mean flow equations so obtained are in a form resembling a generalized version of Darcy's empirical equation for the motion of fluid in a porous medium. The physical meaning of these equations is discussed.