Abstract
A fluid-mechanic-based analysis is presented for the settling behavior of flocculated suspensions. Flocs have been modeled as composite spheres consisting of a solid core embedded in a shell of homogeneous and isotropic porous medium. Theoretical estimates of the rates of sedimentation for flocculated suspensions are obtained by solving the equations of continuity and of motion. The interparticle interactions are incorporated into the analysis by employing the Happel free surface cell model. The results reported embrace wide ranges of conditions of floc size and concentration.