06 July 2011

Interesting behavior of a viscous fluid

"A stream of very viscous syrup falls from a nozzle onto a moving belt. Initially, the belt is moving so fast that the thread is just pulled out straight. As the speed of the belt is reduced, the thread first bifurcates to a meandering state, and then to a "figure eight" state. Finally, the thread falls into a coiling motion similar to what it would do on a non-moving surface."

5 comments:

  1. That's really cool. The fluid seems to want to keep the same bead size that it is dripped at.

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  2. Another really cool video that kind of blows my mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rVSh-au_9aM

    Strobe effect gone crazy.

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  3. I don't buy it. If you look at the top of the screen, you'll see, at first, that the "nozzle-end" (toward where the liquid is coming out) is rock steady. That should be steady no matter how fast or slow the belt goes. But instead, you see the nozzle end began to move this way and that way. THAT, I think, is the cause of the different designs. Belt speed has nothing to do with it.

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  4. I can't see the nozzle, but I don't agree that "the "nozzle-end"... should be steady no matter how fast or slow the belt goes."

    I think the point is that the motion of the belt propagates back up the viscous column to affect the flow of the liquid.

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  5. That would be a really cool embroidery border!

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