Phys.org August 14, 2020
To study the Discontinuous Shear Thickening (DST) researchers in the UK used regular kitchen corn starch mixed with water, placed this in a narrow cell and released pressurized air into the cornstarch-water fluid. They observed three distinct pattern morphologies: viscous fingering, dendritic fracturing, and system-wide fracturing, which correspond to the same packing fraction ranges as weak shear thickening, discontinuous shear thickening, and shear-jammed regimes. DST behaviour could be used to calibrate future theoretical models for unique engineering applications such as soft body armour, “smart” speed bumps, and food production…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
… Abrupt shear thickening makes it fracture like a solid. The suspension “melts” back to a liquid once the fracture front has passed. Credit: IMPACT, Swansea University