{
  "abstract": "In many biological, biomedical and industrial systems, particles are transported via fluids through confined networks, in which clogging can disrupt function. However, we lack a predictive theoretical framework that couples particle transport, suspension rheology and network flow resistance. Here, we develop a model and solution algorithm for particle suspension flow in networks based on vessel-level continuum modelling and particle distribution at nodes connecting vessels. We apply the model to study transport of dense particle suspensions in minimal and physiological biological networks. A key feature of our model is the coupling between particle volume fraction and particle flux: in line with the physics of dense suspensions, each network branch, or vessel, possesses a local carrying capacity for particle transport at an intermediate particle fraction between zero and the maximum packing fraction. If this flux capacity is reached, the vessel becomes flux-limited and particles can accumulate in upstream branches, causing them to enter a high-particle-fraction, high-resistance state that we refer to as 'clogged'. We show that these vessel flux limitations lead to network-level redistribution of particles, which can cause widespread clogging and emergent network-scale heterogeneity. By varying network topology, we find that in some regimes increasing network connectivity does not improve transport: paradoxically, additional pathways can promote clogging and reduce network-level particle flux, analogous to classic results in traffic flow networks. Our results provide a minimal mechanistic framework that links suspension physics, network topology, and transport failure in complex flow networks.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University College London"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "C. V. Neal"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. R. Hewitt"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "P. Pearce"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ax3dvnqzr1k1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.07.749836",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.07.749836v1.full",
  "id": "1ax3dvnqzr1k1",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.07.749836v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "biophysics"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Blood properties and coagulation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212240189",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.07.749836v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-07",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ax3dvnqzr1k1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:58Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.07.749836",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.07.749836v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:biophysics",
      "subfield": "biophysics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Clogging of particle suspensions in networks",
  "title_text": "Clogging of particle suspensions in networks",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:58Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1ax3dvnqzr1k1",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}