Experimental and numerical study of interaction between particle loaded fluid and a rough wall with micropillars

Abstract Experimental and numerical studies of the behavior of a slurry in a shear flow over a rough surface with a defined micro-structure are presented. A new ring shear device was built which contains an optically transparent test chamber. Its bottom wall contains arrays of micro-cantilever force sensors simulating a defined surface roughness created by deep-etching of micro-pillars in a silicon wafer. The results of visual observation of the interaction of the suspension with the structured surface during severe deformation are shown. Observations comprise the liquid phase motion, i.e., the interaction between the liquid phase and solid particles, the movement of separate particles and their interactions with the micro-pillars. Abrupt changes in rotational motion and translational velocity of particles are observed that induce mutual collisions and successive formation and break-up of cluster structures of various types. In addition to the experiments the process was simulated with discrete element (DEM) simulations. Many characteristics found in the experiments are reproduced by the simulations. Furthermore the physical quantities of the process like contact forces or velocities can be quantified which helps us to develop more detailed models of the abrasive behavior of slurries.