Collective dynamics of flowing colloids during pore clogging.

Based on direct numerical simulations of the coupled motion of particles and fluid, this study analyzes the collective hydrodynamic and colloidal effects of flowing microparticles during the formation of different 3D clogging patterns at a pore entrance. Simulations of flowing suspensions through a pore with various simulation conditions show that particle concentration and surface interactions play a major role in the occurrence of the bridging phenomenon (simultaneous adhesion of many particles). In the absence of DLVO repulsive forces, plugging is characterized by the temporal reduction of the bulk permeability when increasing the volume fraction of the flowing suspension up to 20%.