A generic model for the resuspension of multilayer aerosol deposits by turbulent flow

An idealized lattice structure is considered of multilayer aerosol deposits , where every particle at the deposit surface is associated with a resuspen sion rate constant depending on a statistically distributed particle parame ter and onflow conditions. The response of this generic model is represente d by a set of integrodifferential equations. As a first application of the general formalism, the behavior of Fromentin's multilayer model is analyzed , and the model parameters are adapted to experimental data. In addition, i mproved relations between model parameters and physical input parameters ar e proposed. As a second application, a method is proposed far building mult ilayer models by using resuspension rate constants of existing monolayer mo dels. The method is illustrated by a sample of monolayer data resulting fro m the model of Reeks, Reed, and Hall. Also discussed is the error to be exp ected if a monolayer resuspension model, which works well for thin aerosol deposits, is applied to thick deposits under the classical monolayer assump tion that all deposited particles interact with the fluid at all times.