Lucas Cheng

The dynamics of particle flows through confined geometries are crucial for understanding systems ranging from granular materials to microfluidic devices. We investigate single- and multi-particle flows of deformable particles to differentiate the effects of individual and collective particle behaviors. For single-particle flows, we calibrate our computational model using experiments of gravity-driven capillary droplets navigating constrictions. We show that deformability is the key factor in determining flow dynamics, and highly deformable droplets can wrap around obstacles, leading to reduced flow speed and increased clogging probability. In multi-particle flows, we demonstrate that dissipation mechanisms, particularly the ratio of viscous drag to kinetic friction, play a more important role in controlling discharge flow behavior.