2003/01/29 by Frank Fonseca, Hans J. Herrmann, Fonseca, Frank +1 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Condensed Matter (cond-mat) #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics Simulations and Interactions #Scientific Research and Discoveries #cond-mat
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0301571
Submitted to PRE
arxiv created 2003/01/29 · openalex publication_date 2003/01/29 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present a numerical investigation of the dynamics of one falling oblate ellipsoid particle in a viscous fluid, in three dimensions, using a constrained-force technique \citeKai, \citeKaih and \citeEsa. We study the dynamical behavior of the oblate for a typical downward motion and obtain the trajectory, velocity, and orientation of the particle. We analyze the dynamics of the oblate generated when the height of the container, the aspect-ratio, and the dynamical viscosity are changed. Three types of falling motions are established: steady-falling, periodic oscillations and chaotic oscillations. In the periodic regime we find a behavior similar to the case of falling flat strips reported in ref. \citeBelmonte. In the chaotic regime the trajectory of the oblate is characterized by a high sensitivity to tiny variations in the initial orientation. The Lyapunov exponent is λ= 0.052 ± 0.005. A phase space comparing to the results of ref \citeNori, is shown.