Sedimentation of V-shaped micro-objects with mass anisotropy under gravity

We will present a preliminary study of the sedimentation of V-shaped rigid micro-objects in viscous fluid. These objects are composed of solid spherical particles with different masses touching each other. Previous studies [M. L. Ekiel-Jeżewska, E. Wajnryb; J. Phys. Condens. Matter 21 (2009) 204102] shows that V-shaped objects with mass isotropy orient toward a stable stationary configuration. On the contrary, straight chains of spheres and unilateral triangular structures do not change their orientation with time. Besides, the introduction of mass anisotropy leads to a stable stationary configuration of a rigid dumbbell in a very viscous medium, as was recently shown by [K. Nissanka et al.; J. Fluid Mech. 956 (2023) A28]. We will determine numerically the dynamics of the V-shaped chain of the beads sedimenting in a Stokes flow depending on the sizes and densities of the beads.