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A new Direct Simulation fibre model was developed which allowed flexibility in the fibre during the simulation of fibre suspension flow.This new model was called the �Chain-of-Spheres �model.It was hypothesised that particle shape and deformation could signi ficantly a ffect partic e dynamics,and also suspension bulk properties such as viscosity.Data collected from the simulation showed that flexible fibres in shear flow resulted in an order of 7 −10% bulk relative viscosity increase over the �rigid �fibre result.Results also es- tablished the existence of a relationship between bulk viscosity and particle sti ffness.In comparison with experimental results,other more conventional rigid fibre based methods appeared to underpredict relative viscosity.The flexible fibre method thus markedly improved the ability to estimate relative viscosity.The curved rigid fibre suspension also exhibited increased viscosity of the order twice that of the equivalent straight rigid fibre suspension.With such sensitivity to fibre shape,this result has some important implications for the quality of fibre inclusions used.For consistent viscosity,the shape quality of the fibres was shown to be important. The �Chain of Spheres �simulation was substantially extended to create a new simulation method with the ability to model the dynamics of arbitrarily shaped particles in the Newtonian flow field.This new �3D Particle �simulation method accounted for the inertial force on the particles,and also allowed particles to be embedded in complex flow fields.This method was used to reproduce known dynamics for common particle shapes,and then to predict the unknown dynamics of various other particle shapes in shear flow. In later sections, the simulation demonstrated inertia-induced particle migration inthe non-linear shear gradient Couette cylinder flow,and was used to predict the fibre orientation within a diverging channel flow.The performance of the method was verified against known experimental measurements,observations and theoretical and numerical results where available.The comparisons revealed that the current method reproduced single particle dynamics with great fidelity. The broad aim of this research was to better understand the microstruc- tural dynamics within the fibre-filled suspension and from it,derive useful engineering information on the bulk flow of these fluids.This thesis represents a move forward to meet this broad aim.It is hoped that future researchers may bene fit from the new approaches and algorithms developed here.

A new Direct Simulation fibre model was developed which allowed flexibility in the fibre during the simulation of fibre suspension flow.This new model was called the �Chain-of-Spheres �model.It was hypothesised that particle shape and deformation could signi ficantly a ffect partic e dynamics,and also suspension bulk properties such as viscosity.Data collected from the simulation showed that flexible fibres in shear flow resulted in an order of 7 −10% bulk relative viscosity increase over the �rigid �fibre result.Results also es- tablished the existence of a relationship between bulk viscosity and particle sti ffness.In comparison with experimental results,other more conventional rigid fibre based methods appeared to underpredict relative viscosity.The flexible fibre method thus markedly improved the ability to estimate relative viscosity.The curved rigid fibre suspension also exhibited increased viscosity of the order twice that of the equivalent straight rigid fibre suspension.With such sensitivity to fibre shape,this result has some important implications for the quality of fibre inclusions used.For consistent viscosity,the shape quality of the fibres was shown to be important. The �Chain of Spheres �simulation was substantially extended to create a new simulation method with the ability to model the dynamics of arbitrarily shaped particles in the Newtonian flow field.This new �3D Particle �simulation method accounted for the inertial force on the particles,and also allowed particles to be embedded in complex flow fields.This method was used to reproduce known dynamics for common particle shapes,and then to predict the unknown dynamics of various other particle shapes in shear flow. In later sections, the simulation demonstrated inertia-induced particle migration inthe non-linear shear gradient Couette cylinder flow,and was used to predict the fibre orientation within a diverging channel flow.The performance of the method was verified against known experimental measurements,observations and theoretical and numerical results where available.The comparisons revealed that the current method reproduced single particle dynamics with great fidelity. The broad aim of this research was to better understand the microstruc- tural dynamics within the fibre-filled suspension and from it,derive useful engineering information on the bulk flow of these fluids.This thesis represents a move forward to meet this broad aim.It is hoped that future researchers may bene fit from the new approaches and algorithms developed here.

A numerical tool has been developed for particle-level simulations of fibre suspension flows, particularly forming of the fibre network structure of paper sheets in the paper machine. The model considers inert fibres of various equilibrium shapes, and finite stiffness, interacting with each other through normal, frictional, and lubrication forces, and with the surrounding fluid medium through hydrodynamic forces. Fibre–fluid interactions in the non-creeping flow regime are taken into account, and the two-way coupling between the solids and the fluid phases is included by enforcing momentum conservation between phases. The incompressible three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations are employed tomodel themotion of the fluid medium. The validity of the model has been tested by comparing simulation results with experimental data from the literature. It was demonstrated that the model predicts well the motion of isolated fibres in shear flow over a wide range of fibre flexibilities. It was also shown that the model predicts details of the orientation distribution of   multiple, straight, rigid fibres in a sheared suspension. Furthermore, model predictions of the shear viscosity and first normal stress difference were in fair agreement with experimental data found in the literature. Since the model is based solely on first principles physics, quantitative predictions could be made without any parameter fitting.   Based on these validations, a series of simulations have been performed to investigate the basic mechanisms responsible for the development of the stress tensor components for monodispersed, non-Brownian fibres suspended in a Newtonian fluid in shear flow. The effects of fibre aspect ratio, concentration, and inter-particle friction, as well as the tendency of fibre agglomeration, were examined in the nonconcentrated regimes. For the case of well dispersed suspensions, semi-empirical relationships were found between the aforementioned fibre suspension properties, and the steady state apparent shear viscosity, and the first/second normal stress differences.   Finally, simulations have been conducted for the development of paper structures in the forming section of the paper machine. The conditions used for the simulations were retrieved from pilot-scale forming trial data in the literature, and from real pulp fibre analyses. Dewatering was simulated by moving two forming fabrics toward each other through a fibre suspension. Effects of the jet-to-wire speed difference on the fibre orientation anisotropy, the mass density distribution, and three-dimensionality of the fibre network, were investigated. Simulation results showed that the model captures well the essential features of the forming effects on these paper structure parameters, and also posed newquestions on the conventional wisdom of the forming mechanics.

This thesis deals with fibre orientation in wall-bounded shear flows. The primary application in mind is papermaking. The study is mainly experimental,but is complemented with theoretical considerations.The main part of the thesis concerns the orientation of slowly settlingfibres in a wall-bounded viscous shear flow. This is a flow case not dealt withpreviously even at small Reynolds numbers. Experiments were conducted usingdilute suspensions with fibres having aspect ratios of rp ≈ 7 and 30. It is foundthat the wall effect on the orientation is small for distances from the wall wherethe fibre centre is located farther than half a fibre length from the wall. Farfrom the wall most fibres were oriented close to the flow direction. Closer tothe wall than half a fibre length the orientation distribution first shifted to bemore isotropic and in the very proximity of the wall the fibres were orientedclose to perpendicular to the flow direction, nearly aligned with the vorticityaxis. This was most evident for the shorter fibres with rp ≈ 7.Due to the density difference between the fibres and the fluid there is anincreased concentration near the wall. Still, a physical mechanism is requiredin order for a fibre initially oriented close to the flow direction at about half afibre length from the wall to change its orientation to aligned with the vorticityaxis once it has settled down to the wall. A slender body approach is usedin order to estimate the effect of wall reflection and repeated wall contacts onthe fibre rotation. It is found that the both a wall reflection, due to settlingtowards the wall, and contact between the fibre end and the wall are expectedto rotate the fibre closer to the vorticity axis. A qualitative agreement withthe experimental results is found in a numerical study based on the theoreticalestimation.In addition an experimental study on fibre orientation in the boundarylayers of a headbox is reported. The orientation distribution in planes parallelto the wall is studied. The distribution is found to be more anisotropic closerto the wall, i.e. the fibres tend to be oriented closer to the flow direction nearthe wall. This trend is observed sufficiently far upstream in the headbox.Farther downstream no significant change in the orientation distribution couldbe detected for different distances from the wall. / QC 20100706

Hydrocyclones can be used to fractionate fibres according to their papermaking potential. The obtained fractions typically differ in fibre wall thickness and/or degree of fibre treatment. Despite a multitude of potential application scenarios, the process has so far had little commercial success. This is largely explained by the low fractionation efficiency and unfavourable operating characteristics of the process. The fractionation efficiency of a hydrocyclone is closely related to its flow field. The influence of pulp concentration on the tangential velocity field was therefore studied, by using a self-cleaning pitometer. It was found that the pulp concentration had a strong influence on the tangential velocity. At a feed pulp concentration above 7.5 g/l, the suspension rotated almost as a solid body. As a consequence, the magnitude of radial acceleration and shear stresses decreased dramatically. It is suggested that this is detrimental to the fractionation efficiency. The radial velocity field was measured using an Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler. The measurements showed that the rotational centre of the flow field did not correspond with the geometrical centre of the hydrocyclone. This displacement caused the tangential velocity component of the vortex to contribute substantially to the measurement result of the radial velocity component. Based on the findings in respect to the flow field studies, a novel design for a fibre fractionation hydrocyclone was proposed. The flow field inside this hydrocyclone was compared to that in a conventional hydrocyclone. It was found, that high radial acceleration and shear stresses could be maintained in the novel design even at high fibre concentration. The fractionation efficiency of the novel hydrocyclone was characterised in terms of surface roughness difference between fine and coarse fraction. When operated with refined bleached softwood kraft pulp, the novel hydrocyclone could produce fractions with a substantial surface roughness difference without deteriorating the dewatering characteristics of the fine fraction. A low thickening of the reject is proposed to be the explanation for that. When fractionating TMP, the best efficiency occurred at a concentration of 10 g/l. / QC 20100804

<p>The orientation of fibres suspended in a viscous fluid, flowing over a solid surface, has been studied experimentally. A shear layer was generated, by letting the suspension flow down an inclined plate. Far upstream from the measuring section the suspension was accelerated to obtain an initial orientation of the fibres aligned with the flow direction. A CCD-camera was used to visualise the fibres. The velocity profile of the fibres coincided with the theoretical expression for fully developed flow of Newtonian liquid down an inclined wall.</p><p>The orientation of the fibres was analysed in planes parallel to the solid surface. At distances from the wall larger than one fibre length the fibres performed a tumbling motion in the flow-gradient plane in what appeared to be Jeffery-like orbits. Closer to the wall a difference was found between fibres of aspect ratio <i>r</i><i>p </i>= 10 and 40. The longer fibres of <i>r</i><i>p </i>= 40 kept their orientation, aligned with the flow, also in the near wall region. For the shorter fibres the orientation shifted gradually, to orientations closer to the vorticity axis, when the distance from the wall was decreased. In the very proximity to the wall the fibres were aligned with the vorticity, perpendicular to the direction of the flow. Another distinction, most likely related to the fibre orientation, was seen in the wall normal concentration profile. Due to sedimentation effects fibres accumulated in the near wall region. For fibres of <i>r</i><i>p </i>= 10 a peak in concentration was found at the wall, while for r=40 the maximum concentration was found approximately half a fibre length from the wall. It is previously known that a fibre can interact with the wall in what is referred to as a "pole vaulting" motion away from the wall. It is suggested, as a likely explanation to the location of the maximum concentration, that fibres of <i>r</i><i>p </i>= 40 perform this motion, while fibres of <i>rp</i>=10 do not.</p><p>In another experiment the surface of the wall was modified with ridges. For fibres of <i>r</i><i>p </i>= 10 there were no longer any fibres oriented perpendicular to the flow direction in the near wall region.</p><p>The main application in mind throughout this work is papermaking. The study is considered to be of fundamental character and is not applicable in a direct sense. The difference between the flow situation in the experiments and the paper machine is discussed further.</p>

In this thesis the orientation of macro-sized fibres in turbulent flows is studied, as well as the effect of nano-sized fibrils on hydrodynamic stability. The focus lies on enabling processes for new materials where cellulose is the main constituent. When fibres (or any elongated particles) are added to a fluid, the complexity of the flow-problem increases. The fluid flow will influence the rotation of the fibres, and therefore also effect the overall fibre orientation. Exactly how the fibres rotate depends to a large extent on the mean velocity gradient in the flow. In addition, when fibres are added to a suspending fluid, the total stress in the suspension will increase, resulting in an increased apparent viscosity. The increase in stress is related to the direction of deformation in relation to the orientation of the particle, i.e. whether the deformation happens along the long or short axis of the fibre. The increase in stress, which in most cases is not constant neither in time nor space, will in turn influence the flow. This thesis starts off with the orientation and spatial distribution of fibres in the turbulent flow down an inclined plate. By varying fibre and flow parameters it is discovered that the main parameter controlling the orientation distribution is the aspect ratio of the fibres, with only minor influences from the other parameters. Moreover, the fibres are found to agglomerate into streamwise streaks. A new method to quantify this agglomeration is developed, taking care of the problems that arise due to the low concentration in the experiments. It is found that streakiness, i.e. the tendency to agglomerate in streaks, varies with Reynolds number. Going from fibre orientation to flow dynamics of fibre suspensions, the influence of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) on laminar/turbulent transition is investigated in three different setups, namely plane channel flow, curved-rotating channel flow, and the flow in a flow focusing device. This last flow case is selected since it is can be used for assembly of CNF based materials. In the plane channel flow, the addition of CNF delays the transition more than predicted from measured viscosities while in the curved-rotating channel the opposite effect is discovered. This is qualitatively confirmed by linear stability analyses. Moreover, a transient growth analysis in the plane channel reveals an increase in streamwise wavenumber with increasing concentration of CNF. In the flow focusing device, i.e. at the intersection of three inlets and one outlet, the transition is found to mainly depend on the Reynolds number of the side flow. Recirculation zones forming downstream of two sharp corners are hypothesised to be the cause of the transition. With that in mind, the two corners are given a larger radius in an attempt to stabilise the flow. However, if anything, the flow seems to become unstable at a smaller Reynolds number, indicating that the separation bubble is not the sole cause of the transition. The choice of fluid in the core flow is found to have no effect on the stability, neither when using fluids with different viscosities nor when a non-Newtonian CNF dispersion was used. Thus, Newtonian model fluids can be used when studying the flow dynamics in this type of device. As a proof of concept, a flow focusing device is used to produce a continuous film from CNF. The fibrils are believed to be aligned due to the extensional flow created in the setup, resulting in a transparent film, with an estimated thickness of 1 um. / <p>QC 20141003</p>

The orientation of fibres suspended in a viscous fluid, flowing over a solid surface, has been studied experimentally. A shear layer was generated, by letting the suspension flow down an inclined plate. Far upstream from the measuring section the suspension was accelerated to obtain an initial orientation of the fibres aligned with the flow direction. A CCD-camera was used to visualise the fibres. The velocity profile of the fibres coincided with the theoretical expression for fully developed flow of Newtonian liquid down an inclined wall. The orientation of the fibres was analysed in planes parallel to the solid surface. At distances from the wall larger than one fibre length the fibres performed a tumbling motion in the flow-gradient plane in what appeared to be Jeffery-like orbits. Closer to the wall a difference was found between fibres of aspect ratio rp = 10 and 40. The longer fibres of rp = 40 kept their orientation, aligned with the flow, also in the near wall region. For the shorter fibres the orientation shifted gradually, to orientations closer to the vorticity axis, when the distance from the wall was decreased. In the very proximity to the wall the fibres were aligned with the vorticity, perpendicular to the direction of the flow. Another distinction, most likely related to the fibre orientation, was seen in the wall normal concentration profile. Due to sedimentation effects fibres accumulated in the near wall region. For fibres of rp = 10 a peak in concentration was found at the wall, while for r=40 the maximum concentration was found approximately half a fibre length from the wall. It is previously known that a fibre can interact with the wall in what is referred to as a "pole vaulting" motion away from the wall. It is suggested, as a likely explanation to the location of the maximum concentration, that fibres of rp = 40 perform this motion, while fibres of rp=10 do not. In another experiment the surface of the wall was modified with ridges. For fibres of rp = 10 there were no longer any fibres oriented perpendicular to the flow direction in the near wall region. The main application in mind throughout this work is papermaking. The study is considered to be of fundamental character and is not applicable in a direct sense. The difference between the flow situation in the experiments and the paper machine is discussed further. / QC 20101103

This study deals with fibre suspension flows through cylindrical pipes. Thepresent work aims at measurements of opaque flows, which are common inindustries. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) and ultrasound velocimetryprofiling (UVP) were employed as non-invasive and optic-independenttools to measure the velocity profiles. As a first experiment, a paper-pulp suspensionflow through a sudden contraction and expansion was investigated.The results show the NMRI technique can be used to measure the stronglyunsteady flow such as separated regions though the MR signal is attenuateddue to the turbulence in the flow. The flow loop had however an insufficientinlet length which caused asymmetric profiles at the test section. As a secondexperiment, a flow loop which provided fully developed flows at the test sectionwas designed. After that, the velocity profiles of rayon-fibre and micro-spheresuspension flows were measured by the NMRI and the UVP independently.In principle, these two techniques measure the different velocities of the fibresuspensionflows, i.e. the velocity of the water and the fibre. In dilute suspensionflows, where the velocities of the two phases were assumed to be thesame, the velocity profiles were in good agreement. This shows the validityof the two measurement techniques. However, it should be pointed out thatthere is a limitation of the current UVP method for highly concentrated flows.The velocity profiles obtained by the UVP at high concentrations seems notto represent physics while the NMRI is not affected by the concentrations. Itis argued that the advances of the NMRI for the measurement of the highlyconcentrated flows.