Revisiting the effects of electrostatic forces on the lifting of sand particles in dust storms

Abstract

We derived theoretical formulations for the fluid threshold of conducting and insulating sand particles under an imposed electric field. Our analysis reveals a non-monotonic dependency of the fluid threshold on particle diameter, imposed electric field, and surface charge density. For conducting particles, electrostatic forces lead to a reduction of the fluid threshold by up to 31%. In contrast, for negatively charged insulating particles, electrostatic forces enhance the fluid threshold by up to 76%. Unexpectedly, electrostatic forces either enhance or inhibit the fluid threshold by up to 30%, depending on the imposed electric field and surface charge density.