Computational Modeling of Particulate Flows

The ‘Computational Modeling of Particulate Flows’ group conducts research into the simulation of particle flows. Part of the group’s work involves research of particle systems with extremely low densities. For example, the group simulates gas and dust clouds found in the rings around Saturn, or the aerosols and liquid particles in a gas. These are formed in real life when spraying pesticides or when using an asthma inhaler. The other end of the spectrum of the group’s work involves extremely dense systems such as those found in silos containing starch or limestone. The group tries to understand the fundamentals of how powdery materials flow out of, for example, a silo, but also why these materials often do not flow at all. Another area of interest is the ceramic powders from which industrial ceramic components are manufactured using the process of sintering.

In the natural environment, particle flows can be found in avalanches and mudflows. With avalanches it is essential to understand how they develop and why they sometimes go on for much longer than predicted. This is why efforts are being made to better predict the change in flow behaviour. Understanding how various particles behave on an extremely small scale plays an important role here.

This is one of the research areas which has benefited greatly from the increased computing power of computers. Ten years ago it was only possible to make calculations for a system of some two thousand particles. Now, a standard desk-top computer can cope with a system containing a hundred thousand particles.

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