Instability of a horizontal plane-channel flow of a dilute suspension

The stability of a horizontal plane-channel flow of a dilute suspension is studied theoretically. It is shown that the mechanism of action of the sedimenting particles on the flow stability parameters is equivalent to the effect of a distributed flow stratification and is attributable to the vertical nonuniformity of the body force induced by the excess weight of the sedimenting particles. A strong dependence of the disturbance growth rate on the location of the interface between the suspension and the pure liquid is detected.