Sinking in Quicksand: An Applied Approach to the Archimedes Principle

Authors

  • G.M. Evans The University of Newcastle, Australia
  • S.C. Evans The University of Newcastle, Australia
  • Roberto Moreno-Atanasio The University of Newcastle, Australia

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present a laboratory experiment that explains the phenomenon of sinking in quicksand simulated as a fluidized bed. The paper demonstrates experimentally and theoretically that the proportion of a body that sinks in quicksand depends on the volume fraction of solids and the density of the body relative to the density of the quicksand (fluidized bed).

Author Biographies

G.M. Evans, The University of Newcastle, Australia

Geoffrey Evans is professor of chemical engineering at The University of Newcastle, Australia. He received his degrees (B.E. Hons and Ph.D.) from Newcastle. His teaching and research interests are in Particle Technology and Multiphase Processes. He is also interested in applying sustainability and green engineering principles as generally applied to the chemical engineering discipline.

S.C. Evans, The University of Newcastle, Australia

Sylvie Evans is a student at The University of Newcastle, Australia, and assisted with the experimental data and subsequent analysis.

Roberto Moreno-Atanasio, The University of Newcastle, Australia

Roberto Moreno-Atanasio obtained his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Surrey, U.K. He has been a lecturer at the University of Newcastle since 2009 working in the area of multiphase flow with focus on the use of Discrete Element Method computer simulations. He teaches Advanced Particle Processing, Thermodynamics, Partial Differential Equations, and Statistics and Numerical Analysis.

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Published

2015-05-05

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 2 (2015): Spring 2015

Section

Manuscripts