We examine how various parameters affect the flow rate of quasi-2D soft particles moving through tight openings. To observe this, we create thin hopper-shaped chambers, which have a small exit for the particles to flow through.

 

We fill the chambers with monodisperse oil-in-water emulsions with a soap surfactant. We use microscopy to observe the droplets moving through the chamber.

 

We find that for the range in which we were looking, the number of droplets in the chamber doesn't greatly affect the exit rate of the droplets. The flow rate is more strongly affected by the size of the chamber opening. The rates were fit to a modified Beverloo function.

 

We also find that the maximum deformation of the droplets does not always occur at the opening. In cases where the opening is smaller than the droplets, two droplets sometimes compete to get in the opening and they deform each other before the opening.  

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Completed an Honors Thesis receiving highest honors which will be available in the Emory University Library in 2022.