Aerodynamic resuspension of irregular flat micro-particles

This study investigates the role of particle shape on the aerodynamic resuspension process of irregular flat micro-particles on a substrate. We propose that these particles resuspend at higher velocities than spherical ones of the same size under the same aerodynamic forces. Two sets of data are analyzed to test the argument, the first from experiments we conducted using crushed glass particles (ranging from 80 μm to 300 μm) and the second from published data on RDX explosive residue particles (sized between 10 μm and 25 μm) published previously.

We particularly analyze the shape factors of the particles used in the experiments and introduce them into a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation model. The probabilities for the time evolution of the resuspension process are calculated through a Markov chain of states. The transition probabilities entail the balance between the forces and moments involved in the mechanisms for particle detachment from the surface.

The particle resuspension rate as a function of the fluid velocity is evaluated both experimental and numerically. Additionally, we assess the removal efficiency for different particle size ranges whenever possible.

Both experimental and numerical results demonstrate that the resuspension fraction of irregular flat particles is significantly lower than for equally sized glass microspheres under the same conditions. Simulations corroborate previous experimental findings, indicating that smaller irregular particles exhibit higher removal efficiency. According to the MC model results, irregular particles detach by sliding rather than rolling.