Development of DEM Model Considering Viscous Force due to Liquid Bridge

Abstract

In wet powder handling processes, it is of paramount importance to accurately estimate the viscous force acting on particles. In the present work, Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a pendular liquid bridge formed between two particles is performed using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method and the normal and tangential viscous forces exerted on the particle are investigated. The DNS results are compared with the viscous force models based on the Reynolds lubrication theory in literature to highlight the limitations of the models. New and more accurate models are then proposed which can be easily implemented in Discrete Element Method (DEM) framework.