Hydrodynamic couplings of colloidal ellipsoids diffusing in channels

The hydrodynamic interactions (HIs) of two colloidal spheres characterized by the translation–translation (T–T) couplings have been studied under various confinements, but little is known regarding the HIs of anisotropic particles and rotational motions, which are common in nature and industry. Here, we study the T–T, rotation–rotation (R–R) and translation–rotation (T–R) hydrodynamic couplings of two colloidal ellipsoids sediment on the bottoms of channels in experiment, theory and simulation. We find that the degree of confinement and the particle shape anisotropy are critical tuning factors resulting in anomalous hydrodynamic and diffusive behaviours. The negative R–R coupling reflects the tendency of opposite rotations of two neighbouring ellipsoids. The positive T–R coupling reflects that an ellipsoid rotates away from the channel axis as another ellipsoid approaches. As the channel width increases, the positive T–T coupling changes to an abnormal negative coupling, indicating that the single-file diffusion can exist even in wide channels. By contrast, only positive T–T couplings were observed for spheres in channels. The T–T coupling increases with the aspect ratio p. The R–R coupling is the maximum at a moderate p ~ 2.8. The T–R coupling is the maximum at a moderate degree of confinement. The spatial range of HIs is longer than that of spheres and increases with p. We propose a simple model which reproduces some coupling phenomena between two ellipsoids, and it is further confirmed by low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamic simulation. These findings shed new light on anisotropic particle diffusion in porous media, transport through membranes, microfluidics and microrheology.

Supplemental Material: Minerals Matter: Science, Technology, and Society

Animation flies through the mineral structure of analcime, a mineral with ionic to superionic conductivity. Structure is represented by a ball (showing atoms) and stick (showing bonds) model. The beginning view is a “surface cell” perpendicular to the channel axis looking down <111> to view the pseudo-trigonal representation. Channel axes is 273 Angstroms wide. First image is about 23 times the channel width or 1288 unit cells. Courtesy of David Palmer, CrystalMaker.

Supplemental Material: Minerals Matter: Science, Technology, and Society

Animation flies through the mineral structure of analcime, a mineral with ionic to superionic conductivity. Structure is represented by a ball (showing atoms) and stick (showing bonds) model. The beginning view is a “surface cell” perpendicular to the channel axis looking down <111> to view the pseudo-trigonal representation. Channel axes is 273 Angstroms wide. First image is about 23 times the channel width or 1288 unit cells. Courtesy of David Palmer, CrystalMaker.

Geophysical investigation of the Orle River fracture system in Igarra Township, southwestern Nigeria

The subsurface structure and propagation geometry of the fracture system controlling the Orle River Channel in the Igarra Township, Southwestern Nigeria, have been investigated via a multi-method geophysical survey. The goal was to delineate the nature, distribution, and spatial propagation geometry of the fracture system and evaluate its potential to serve as storage and distribution features for groundwater within adjoining areas. 2D electrical resistivity, total field magnetic, and co-planar loop conductivity measurements were collected along four traverses using an ABEM1000 Terrameter unit, a GEMS Magnetometer, and an EM34 Co-planar loop electromagnetic system. Traverses were established to run across and parallel to the river channel. The observed electrical resistivity field data were inverted for subsurface 2D resistivity structure using a commercially available 2.5D finite element modelling inversion software. Magnetic field intensity data and ground conductivity data were presented against station positions. Three subsurface layers were delineated at the survey site; (1) surficial humus-rich and wet top-soil, (2) a thin poorly developed weathering layer, and (3) the fresh bedrock which occurs as relatively shallow levels and often outcrops. The River channel is controlled by multiple fractures usually located at or near the contracts between contrasting rock types. Fracture dip is usually in the northerly direction but conjugates, dipping southwards also occur in the most northerly extremes of the imaged fracture system. Upstream the fracture path is wider and along with the imaged overburden, isjuxtaposed northwards of the channel axis suggesting a much broader river channel in the geologic past. Low aperture fractures imaged tangential to channel axis likely serve to funnel surface and groundwater from the channels to the surrounding areas. Where such low aperture fractures can be delineated, they offer the best chances of groundwater abstraction within adjoining areas, particularly during the dry season.

Deep-Sea Trace Fossils In The West Crocker Formation, Sabah (Malaysia), And Their Palaeoenvironmental Significance

In the “flysch” series of the West Crocker Formation (Eocene–Oligocene), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, trace fossils are fairly common although not ubiquitous. The trace fossils commonly occur as hypichnial semi- or full-reliefs on the sole of thin turbiditic sandstone beds (mainly Bouma Tc division) in the thinly bedded heterolithic sandstone-mudstone facies interpreted as submarine fan lobe deposits. Their presence in mainly the thinly bedded facies of the fan system suggests preferential production and preservation in the fine-grained “distal” parts of the Crocker submarine fan system. Trace fossil assemblages characteristic of the Nereites ichnofacies indicate sedimentary environments mainly in bathyal to abyssal water depths (>2000 m). This ichnofacies is dominated by horizontal grazing, farming and feeding traces, ranging from solitary to branching tubular burrows (Ophiomorpha, Palaeophycus and Planolites) to meandering trails and tunnels (Nereites, Cosmorhaphe, Helminthopsis), as well as the spiriform burrows Spirophycus. Graphoglyptids are the most diagnostic of the Nereites ichnofacies, produced by sediment grazers and farmers (agrichnia) and often displaying intricate networks of mainly horizontal tunnels preserved as hypichnial semi-reliefs. They include the delicate spiral traces of Spirorhaphe, as well as the enigmatic hexagonal network burrow Paleodictyon. Other ichnogenera include Planolites, Thalassinoides and Ophiomorpha which are facies-crossing and not environment specific. Detailed observations of the trace fossil assemblages and the degree of bioturbation enabled different sub-ichnofacies of the Nereites ichnofacies to be distinguished. Ophiomorpha is more common in sandy “proximal” facies and tend to penetrate deeply into pre-existing turbidite beds, its presence suggests a well-oxygenated newly deposited turbidite substrate, probably in the axial region of the fan lobes. Hence, channel axis and proximal fan deposits tend to be dominated by the Ophiomorpha rudis sub-ichnofacies. The Paleodictyon sub-ichnofacies is more typical of the lower energy lobe/fan fringe subenvironments. Proximal but off-axis areas are characterized by a mixture of the Ophiomorpha rudis and Paleodictyon sub-ichnofacies.

Optimal Control of Colloidal Trajectories in Inertial Microfluidics Using the Saffman Effect

In inertial microfluidics colloidal particles in a Poiseuille flow experience the Segré-Silberberg lift force, which drives them to specific positions in the channel cross section. An external force applied along the microchannel induces a cross-streamline migration to a new equilibrium position because of the Saffman effect. We apply optimal control theory to design the time protocol of the axial control force in order to steer a single particle as precisely as possible from a channel inlet to an outlet at a chosen target position. We discuss the influence of particle radius and channel length and show that optimal steering is cheaper than using a constant control force. Using a single optimized control-force protocol, we demonstrate that even a pulse of particles spread along the channel axis can be steered to a target and that particles of different radii can be separarted most efficiently.

Insight into Heterogeneous Calcite Cementation of Turbidite Channel-Fills from UAV Photogrammetry

Diagenesis is a key controlling factor on sandstone porosity and permeability. Understanding type, paragenetic sequence and spatial patterns of cements is thus important for assessing sandstone hydrocarbon reservoir properties. In this study Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry is used to evaluate the shape and spatial distribution of calcite concretions developed within the sand-prone fill of a turbidite channel. The studied channel-fill is entrenched into hemipelagic marlstones and include a lower conglomeratic sandstone loaded with marlstone rip-ups and an upper fill featuring a range of turbidite bed types, which, up-section and off the channel axis, are progressively finer grained and less amalgamated. Concretion shape analysis highlighted a continuum of equant to oblate shapes with flat-lying major axes and a cumulative volume fraction of ca. 22%. Equant to sub-equant concretions are ubiquitous and occur at different heights within beds, often developing around marlstone rip-ups. Conversely, elongated concretions are either strata-bound concretions or completely cemented beds which become volumetrically dominant up section and off the channel axis. The interparticle pore-space of concretions represents on average ca. 22% and is tightly filled by poikilotopic and blocky calcite cement precipitated near to maximum burial depth, whereas host sandstones lack calcite cements and show smectite clay cement and an average preserved porosity of ca. 15%. The oxygen and carbon isotopes of calcite cements point to the marlstone as the main source of carbonate ions, suggesting concretions developed during burial by either diffusion from rip-ups and mud caps or recrystallization of, matrix micrite. Results suggest that the process by which the carbonate-rich component was eroded from the substrate and trapped within the channel-fill is a key control on spatial distribution of calcite concretions, likely to reflect on spatial variability of reservoir properties.

UPDATED VERSION OF THE SIMPLIFIED MODEL OF INTENSIVELY BLASTED ELECTRIC ARC

The article deals with an improvement of a simplified model of intensively blasted electric arc burning in argon in an anode channel of a modular-type arc heater. Gradually gained experience in the application of the model with various input data has revealed that some refinement is needed. The contribution focuses especially on the process of searching for an optimum combination of the state variables, which are the exponent determining the arc radius development along the anode channel axis, the current density at the cathode, and the arc temperature at the end of the near-cathode layer. The limiting relations for the state variables are set and discussed. Three constituent parts of the used objective function are analysed and compared. The procedure is demonstrated on a chosen set of experimental data. Further computations with many sets of measured data are necessary to test the designed procedure and to confirm the determination of the state variables’ range.

A skewed movement of large-size ships in “narrow” ice channel

This work investigates a previously unknown phenomenon taking place when a large carrier ship moves in a channel made by an icebreaker narrower than the carrier ship. Usually, the studies of these movement conditions assumed the center line of the ship to coincide with the channel axis and the interaction of ship sides with channel edges to be symmetric. However, the observations made in Ice Basin and in real conditions have shown that in most of cases interaction of ship sides with channel edges is not symmetric. The ship moving in the channel breaks ice only with one of her sides, the other side only rubbing against the edge. The numerical assessments of ship position stability in the channel given in this paper made it possible to understand how this interaction becomes asymmetric. The study also yielded ice resistance assessments for a large carrier ship moving along the channel in these asymmetric conditions.