Experimental characterization of the alignment of short fibers during flow

Abstract

An experimental approach has been made to investigate and characterize the alignment of short fibers contained in a suspension, during flow of the suspension through a convergent channel. Flow patterns have been obtained and analyzed for suspensions of various fiber concentrations. The influence of parameters such as fiber length, volume fraction and viscosity of the carrier medium on the degree of fiber alignment, has been examined. In order to minimize jamming, the viscosity of the carrier medium must be larger than a certain critical viscosity that is dependent on fiber length and volume fraction.