Drop formation in shear-thickening granular suspensions

We study droplet formation in granular suspensions by systematically varying the volume fractions (φ) and particle diameters (d). For suspensions with water as the suspending liquid, we find three different regimes. For dilute suspensions (φ≤45%), drop formation follows the predictions for inertial breakup and exhibits identical dynamics to that of pure water. The breakup is strongly asymmetrical in this case. Only for more concentrated suspensions (φ>45%) does the presence of particles change the dynamics and two other regimes, a symmetrical inertial regime and a Bagnoldian regime, are uncovered. We construct and discuss a phase diagram that allows us to understand and predict the breakup behavior in granular suspensions.