Inertial migration regimes of a neutrally buoyant sphere in pipe Poiseuille flow

Luo W, Parteli EJ, Pöschel T, Fan F (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Journal of Fluid Mechanics Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Book Volume: 1029

Article Number: A53

DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2026.11211

Abstract

The inertial migration of a neutrally buoyant sphere in pipe Poiseuille flow is examined using numerical simulations. Three migration regimes are observed with increasing Reynolds number (Re): monotonic convergence to the equilibrium position, overshooting convergence and damped oscillations. The critical Reynolds numbers separating these regimes decrease with the sphere-to-pipe diameter ratio, d/D. The axial entry length, Lp, required for the sphere to reach equilibrium decreases with both Re and d/D in the monotonic regime, but increases in the oscillatory regime. These results elucidate the dynamics of inertial migration and inform strategies for manipulating particles in confined, particle-laden flows.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thorsten Pöschel Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS)

Involved external institutions

University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) CN China (CN) Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Luo, W., Parteli, E.J., Pöschel, T., & Fan, F. (2026). Inertial migration regimes of a neutrally buoyant sphere in pipe Poiseuille flow. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1029. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2026.11211

MLA:

Luo, Weile, et al. "Inertial migration regimes of a neutrally buoyant sphere in pipe Poiseuille flow." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1029 (2026).

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