Use of a simple model for the interpretation of experimental data on particle resuspension in turbulent flows

A simple mechanistic model for resuspension assuming a log-normal distribut ion of adhesive forces is used to analyse the resuspension measurements of a series of experiments reported in the literature covering a range of part icle size from sub-micron to 30 mum in both mono-layer and multi-layer depo sits. Correlations are derived for the geometric mean and spread of the adh esive force as a function of particle size. These show that adhesion is muc h less than that for smooth contact between particle and surface, consisten t with the effect of surface roughness. Furthermore, sub-micron particles i n a bed of particles appear to be more tightly bound with a much reduced sp read than when the coverage of particles is less than a mono-layer. The mod el including these correlations is easily implementable and suitable for in corporation into severe nuclear accident codes and industrial gas/particle codes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.