On the applicability of different adhesion models in adhesive particulate flows

Abstract

An adhesion map provides quantitative criteria for the appropriate selection of adhesion models applicable to a specific adhesive contact problem of fine particles in complex particulate flows. In this paper, three different general adhesion models are used to construct adhesion maps. The applicable regimes on the adhesion map for different approximate adhesion models are determined according to their underlying limitations. It is found that the choice of general model has limited influence on the structure of a constructed adhesion map. On the contrary, the regime of application for each approximate model is sensitive to the approximation level. A three-dimensional, more intuitive adhesion map based on physical parameters of particles is also built. Finally, recent applications of adhesion models in discrete element method (DEM) investigations of fine-particle flow dynamics are briefly discussed.