Coupling CFD and analytical modeling for investigation of monolayer particle resuspension by transient flows

Abstract

One of the main goals of public health studies is to determine the different factors affecting the breathable air quality (BAQ). Particle resuspension can constitute significant threat to human health since it results in the re-introduction of contaminated particles in the air after their deposition on surfaces. Particle resuspension by transient flows involves complex flows physics challenging its modeling._x000D_ In the current work an analytical model is developed for modeling the probabilistic aspect of monolayer particle resuspension by transient flows coupled with computational fluids dynamics model predicting the stress variation on the surface. The developed analytical model incorporates the effect of turbulent bursts, surface roughness in addition to the flow and particle/surface properties on monolayer particle resuspension. The coupling of the analytical and computational fluids dynamics models for investigation of monolayer particle resuspension by transient flows was validated by published literature data. Good agreement was obtained between literature data and models results revealing that the coupling between the analytical and computational fluid dynamics model is able of capturing the principal physics affecting monolayer particle resuspension. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.