Resolved simulations of sedimenting suspensions of spheres

Several results on sedimenting equal spheres obtained by resolved simulations with the Physalis method are presented. The volume fraction ranges from 8.7% to 34.9% and the particle Galilei number from 49.7 to 99.4. The results shown concern particle collisions, diffusivities, the mean free path, the particle pair distribution function, and other features. It is found that many qualitative trends found in earlier studies continue to hold in the parameter range investigated here as well. The analysis of collisions reveals that particles interact prevalently via their flow fields rather than by direct contacts. A tendency toward particle clustering is demonstrated. The time evolution of the shape and size of particle tetrads is examined.