Abstract:
Coupled aggregation and sedimentation processes were studied by means of three-dimensional computer simulations. For this purpose, a large prism with no periodic boundary conditions for the sedimentation direction was considered. Furthermore, three equally sized and mutually excluded regions were defined inside the prism, a top, a middle and a bottom region. This allows to study the time evolution of the cluster size distribution and the cluster structure separately for each region. The mass distribution profile and the center-of-mass position were also accessed as a function of time. For the bottom region, the effects of the sediment formation on the kinetics of growth and on the cluster structure were clearly observed. The obtained results not only agree with the experimental data obtained by Allain et al. (C. Allain, M. Cloitre, M. Wafra, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 1478 (1995)) and with the simulations made by Gonzalez (A.E. Gonzalez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1243 (2001)), but also allow to gain further insight into the details.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 7 November 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leone, R., Odriozola, G., Mussio, L. et al. Coupled aggregation and sedimentation processes: Three-dimensional off-lattice simulations. Eur. Phys. J. E 7, 153–161 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i200101167
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i200101167