Charge-induced clustering in multifield particulate flows

The present work extends recent results in Zohdi (Int. J. Solids Struct., in press; Proc. Roy. Soc., in press) to develop models and robust solution strategies for the direct simulation of the dynamical flow of charged particles undergoing simultaneous contact, surface reactions and heat transfer. Emphasis is placed on the possibility of particle clustering which can lead to the formation of cluster-structures within the particulate flow. A recursive ‘staggering’ solution scheme is developed, whereby the time-steps are adaptively adjusted to control the rates of convergence within each time-step, and hence, the error associated with the incomplete resolution of the coupled interaction between the various fields and associated constraints. Representative numerical simulations are provided in order to illustrate the character of the model and the solution strategy.