Page 35 - CBT 2018
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Spontaneous un-mixing in particle flows
Rock avalanches, mud slides, and debris flows are examples of natural flows composed of fluids and particles of a wide range of sizes. The dynamics of these flows can result in large-scale property destruction and loss of human life. Clues to understanding past
flows and mitigating future hazards lie in the material deposit patterns from these flows. Talus cones, pictured here from the north shore of Isfjord, Svalbard, Norway, show evidence of spontaneous sorting during the flows of rocks loosened from the cliffs above. Experiments and simulations show that length scales in the deposited patterns are linked to the flow dynamics. Variable grain size distribution arising from sorting influences the dynamics. Flow dynamics can influence sorting itself. Beyond natural hazards, these dynamics apply to industrial particle processing from pharmaceutical to chemical to agricultural industries. [53–55]
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