title: Model for the breakup of a tuft of fibers.
abstract: A simple model for the forces acting on a single fiber as it is withdrawn from a tangled fiber assembly is proposed. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the dynamics of the reptating fiber with respect to the entanglement of fibers within the tuft. The resulting two-parameter model captures the qualitative features of experimental simulation. The model is extended to describe the breakup of a tuft. The results show good agreement with experiment and indicate where a tuft is most likely to fracture based on the density of fiber endpoints.
authors.affiliation: BP Institute for Multiphase Flow, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael E M
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kozyreff
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ockendon