(347e) Pairing And Collective Dynamics Of Particles And Deformable Drops In Parallel-Wall Channels

The dynamics of arrays of spherical particles and deformable drops in parallel-wall channels has been studied numerically using boundary integral and Stokesian-dyanamics techniques with a focus on the effects of confinement ratio (ratio of particle diameter to wall spacing) and deformability. Isolated pairs of drops undergo pairing, while isolated pairs of rigid spheres do not cluster. By contrast, confined linear arrays of particles and drops always undergo pairing regardless of deformability. The response of linear arrays to particle displacements shows a qualitative dependence on deformability. For example, deformable particles are self-centering between the bounding walls and therefore linear arrays of such particles are more stable to particle displacements normal to the walls. Complex collective behavior is observed for linear arrays with particle displacements parallel to the walls.