Vorticity aligned structures in alumina suspensions

 

Highly anisotropic vorticity aligned flocs of alumina particles. The log-like structures structures form in a transient response to shear rate quenches of shear thickened dispersions, and are present in a less ordered state in the steady state at low shear rates. The structures are stabilized by physical confinement, hence their prevalence close to the center of the cone where the gap is smallest.