Modeling of dust entrainment by high-speed airflow

An analytical model for dust lofting due to shock waves or high speed (> 100 fps) winds is described. The model divides the dusty boundary layer into two rigions, an inner granular flow region where particle impacts dominate and an outer region where turbulent diffusion dominates, The two regions are linked by specifying appropriate boundary conditions at a matching point. The effect of surface cohesion is modeled with a parameter representing the energy necessary to fluidize the surface material. The model has been implemented into the MAZe: (multiphase adaptive zoning) hydrocode, As a validation of the model, the code was used to simulate a wind-tunnel dust lofting experiment. The model produced good agreement with experimental mass lofting rates and vertical dust loading profiles.