On the Sedimentation of Particle Suspensions in Stokes Flows

Explore the complex dynamics of particle suspensions in Stokes flows through this 58-minute lecture by Richard Höfer at the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics. Delve into the microscopic modeling of small particles moving in fluids, focusing on gravitational effects and fluid-particle interactions. Examine how the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with ODEs describe particle motion, and understand the intricate interplay between particles through fluid disturbances. Learn about different microscopic models for spherical and non-spherical particles, with and without inertia. Discover corresponding macroscopic models that combine Vlasov equations with Stokes equations. Gain insights into the rigorous derivation of macroscopic systems from microscopic dynamics for inertialess spherical particles in the limit of many small particles. This lecture, part of the Hausdorff Junior Trimester Program on Kinetic Theory, offers a comprehensive look at the sedimentation of particle suspensions in Stokes flows, bridging microscopic and macroscopic perspectives in fluid dynamics.