TURBULENT RESUSPENSION OF SMALL NONDEFORMABLE PARTICLES

An energy-balance resuspension model is modified and applied to the re suspension of a monolayer of nondeformable spherical particles. The pa rticle-surface adhesive force is calculated from a microscopic model b ased on the Lennard-Jones intermolecular potential. Pairwise additivit y of intermolecular interactions is assumed and elastic flattening of the particles is neglected. From the resulting particle-surface intera ction potential the natural frequency of vibration of a particle on a surface and the depth of the potential well are calculated. The partic le resuspension rate is calculated using the results of a previously d eveloped energy-balance model, where the influence of fluid flow on th e bound particle motion is recognized. The effect of surface roughness is included by introducing an effective particle radius that results in log-normally distributed adhesive forces. The predictions of the mo del are compared with experimental results for the resuspension of Al2 O3 particles from stainless steel surfaces, (C) 1998 Academic Press.