settling velocity equation

In geology, settling refers to the process of solid particles depositing from a fluid, typically water. This sedimentation is influenced by the particles' size, shape, and density, as well as the fluid's viscosity.1

The settling velocity equation, famously formulated by G.G. Stokes in 1851, describes the terminal velocity of spheres sinking in a fluid. This velocity is directly proportional to the density difference between the particle and fluid, the particle's radius, and gravity, and inversely proportional to the fluid's viscosity. Stokes's law is most accurate for very small, spherical particles and has been modified for larger or non-spherical particles.23

Settling also occurs in structures built on soft clay, where water is slowly squeezed out, transferring the load from the water to the clay structure over time.1