Overview
Research conducted by physicists at the University of Bayreuth investigated the Basset–Boussinesq history force acting on particles within fluids. The study focused on scenarios where fluids are subjected to shaking. The findings suggest that this history force can influence particle motion, potentially skewing it by as much as 60%.
Research Context
The Basset–Boussinesq history force is a component of fluid dynamics that describes the resistive force experienced by a particle moving in a viscous fluid, accounting for the entire history of its motion. Historically, the calculation of this force has presented significant difficulties, which frequently leads to its omission in analyses of particle motion within fluids. This oversight was first identified by doctoral researcher Frederik Gareis during a student research project conducted while he was a secondary school pupil, working alongside his supervisor.
Findings
The investigation revealed that the Basset–Boussinesq history force has a substantial effect on particle motion in shaken fluids. Specifically, the observed influence suggested a potential skewing of particle motion by up to 60% due to this force. The new findings concerning the history force were published in the scientific journal *Physical Review Fluids*.