Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics: with special applications to particulate media (Mechanics of Fluids and Transport Processes)

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1. Vivek Sharma says:

   October 21, 2010 at 8:17 am

   Review by Vivek Sharma for Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics: with special applications to particulate media (Mechanics of Fluids and Transport Processes)
   Rating:
   Low Reynolds Number Hydrodynamics by Happel and Brenner is one of the most useful texts ever written (in the field of the same name), and is essential reading for everyone working in this area. This includes researchers studying motion of colloidal particles say during sedimentation or through NEMS devices, cell motility and motion of bacteria, microfluidics, microrheology of complex fluids, etc. The book first introduces the required concepts of Fluid Mechanics, and proceeds to detail the theorems and derivations of how Navier Stokes equation is simplified into creeping flow equations, the hydrodynamics of single particles of different shapes and sizes moving in unbounded fluid, the hydrodynamic interaction during motion of assembly of particles, the all effect and ends with a discussion of viscosity of particulate media.

   The book contains a wealth of knowledge regarding the hydrodynamics of particulate media, and progressively introduces the effect on dynamics of the particles. It is very instrustive in the sense, that first the single particle dynamics is discussed. Then the effects of shapes and sizes are detailed. Next level of complexity is built in by looking at interaction between two spherical particles moving through a fluid. Then anisotropic bodies are discussed. The effect of walls, boundaries and multi-particles comes in next. A basic understanding of Fluid Mechanics (say of the order of Transport Phenomenon by Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot) is enough to get one started on discovering the beautiful word of Low Re Hydrodynamics.

   However, the text was written and revised two-three decades back, and hence is a bit dated with respect to the range of applications covered and the cited references. There are several texts available to supplement this one say for looking at cell motility or colloidal dynamics or sedimentation of particles, etc. Also effects of Brownian Motion are excluded, which require studying additional texts. Nevertheless, the book is an exceedingly useful reference (too pricey to own) and will be useful for all the above mentioned fields (and for pedagogic reasons)!

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