Influence of Collision Algorithm Parameters on Statistical Results of Dust Lifting Simulations

Abstract

This work presents a study of the influence of collision algorithm parameters, i.e. restitution and friction coefficients, on some statistical results from simulations of dust lifting, namely, average height of particles, particle collision frequency, particle collision distribution and kinetic energy loss. The entrainment of a polydisperse dust layer, with particle sizes distributed in accordance with a log‐normal distribution function, by a shock wave in a three‐dimensional domain was simulated using the Eulerian‐Lagrangian technique. It was found that the value of the coefficient of restitution is important when accounting for the average height of particles, the collision frequency and the spatial collision distribution. The Coulombic friction coefficient was found to have a considerable influence on the particle average height and loss of kinetic energy, and a marginal influence on the spatial collision distribution.