Shihai Feng1, Christopher G. Stoltz2, Kim Rasmussen1, Stephen A. Altobelli3, and Alan Graham1. (1) Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab Po Box 1663 MS-E549, Los Alamos, NM 87545, (2) Procter & Gamble Company, 8256 Union Centre Blvd, CETL IP-350, West Cheste, OH 45069, (3) New Mexico Resonance, Yale Center, Suite C1, Albuquerque, NM 87108
We describe a direct simulation method that effectively determines the appropriate hindered settling behavior of polydisperse particle suspensions. Our method allows adequate representation of the hydrodynamic interactions as well as system specific colloidal interactions. Simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data obtained by MRI imaging. Our results demonstrate the importance of hydrodynamic diffusion and Brownian diffusion in the hindered settling suspensions.