A model of mass shedding dynamics in thin-film particle-laden flows

This study presents a model for mass shedding in gravity-driven particle-laden flow down an inclined plane. We consider a mix of negatively buoyant particles with a viscous fluid, which is allowed to flow down an incline. When the concentration of particles and angle of inclination are high, the particles have the tendency to accumulate at the fluid front. Eventually, when enough particles have accumulated, the particles approach their maximum packing fraction and reach a jammed state. In this case, we have experimentally observed that small chunks of mass break off from the main flow and slide down the incline at greater speed. We present a model of mass shedding that extends previous work on modeling of mass accumulation at the fluid front. In particular we develop a model involving repeated mass shedding events. We explore patterns that emerge when many masses are shed in this way and can interact further down the incline. A notable effect that appears is a power law relationship between distance from the fluid front and mass accumulation.