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A generalized three-dimensional discrete element method with electrostatic induced cohesion

Abstract:

Many granular materials can be electrostatically charged when colliding as part of several dust handling processes (Pei et al. in Powder Technol 248:34–43, 2013). The attractive and repulsive forces that result from this handling can lead to the aggregation or segregation of the grains (Grzybowski et al. in Nat Mater 2(4):241–245, 2003) and to an unanticipated grain dispersion (Wu et al. in Ind Eng Chem Res 47(15):5005–5015, 2008). Therefore, understanding the kinematics and dynamics of electrically charged grains is very important in the processing of materials with electrostatic induced cohesion (Pei et al. in AIChE J 61(6):1792–1803, 2015). The present work introduces a new level set-based discrete element method which enables us, for the first time, to a generalized modeling and computational simulation of real three-dimensional cohesive granular media such as clays. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]