2-D rotation behavior of a rigid ellipse in confined viscous simple shear: numerical experiments using FEM

The rotation behavior of rigid elliptical inclusions adherent to the viscous matrix in simple shear flow is investigated using a 2-D finite element numerical model. Several simulations were performed using different ratios (S) between shear zone width and inclusion's least principal axis. A computational strategy was devised to calculate pressure and viscous forces exerted on the inclusion and deduce its angular velocity. For large S values, results agree remarkably well with theoretical predictions, while for small S values results deviate significantly from theory but are in agreement with previous analogue experiments. The numerical model provided detailed and coherent information about the physical parameters involved in the process (e.g., pressure, strain rate and vorticity distributions within the model).