In this paper, we demonstrate that vertically vibrating a plate in a cornstarch suspension causes the suspension to vigorously ratchet up the plate.We show that this is a necessary consequence of the fact that cornstarch inwater is shear thickening: when the plate moves up it opposes gravity and so the fluid stiffens; when it moves down itworks with gravity and so the fluid flows. This produces asymmetric ratcheting that opposes gravity. We find several unusual states that result in this simple experimental system, and we reproduce the essential effect in two different numerical simulations.
Shinbrot, T., Rutala, M., Montessori, A., Prestininzi, P., Succi, S. (2015). Paradoxical ratcheting in cornstarch. PHYSICS OF FLUIDS, 27(10), 103101 [10.1063/1.4934709].
Paradoxical ratcheting in cornstarch
MONTESSORI, ANDREA;PRESTININZI, PIETRO;
2015-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, we demonstrate that vertically vibrating a plate in a cornstarch suspension causes the suspension to vigorously ratchet up the plate.We show that this is a necessary consequence of the fact that cornstarch inwater is shear thickening: when the plate moves up it opposes gravity and so the fluid stiffens; when it moves down itworks with gravity and so the fluid flows. This produces asymmetric ratcheting that opposes gravity. We find several unusual states that result in this simple experimental system, and we reproduce the essential effect in two different numerical simulations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
