Elmer Solver can be used to calculate the sedimentation of rigid bodies in visco-plastic medium. The model is based on quasi static particle mechanics and Stokes equations for incompressible flow.

The figures below show the initial configuration and the absolute value of velocity for two test cases. In the first case there is one single body which is slowly sinking to the bottom of the cavity. In the second case there are two bodies which sink with interaction. The initial position of the upper body is the same as in the first case.

Sedimentation of one body (velocity) mpg [500k]

Sedimentation of one body (trace) mpg [500k]

Sedimentation of two bodies (velocity) mpg [500k]

Sedimentation of two bodies (trace) mpg [500k]