Effect of particle volume fraction on the settling velocity of volcanic ash particles: insights from joint experimental and numerical simulations.

ABSTRACT: Most of the current ash transport and dispersion models neglect particle-fluid (two-way) and particle-fluid plus particle-particle (four-way) reciprocal interactions during particle fallout from volcanic plumes. These interactions, a function of particle concentration in the plume, could play an important role, explaining, for example, discrepancies between observed and modelled ash deposits. Aiming at a more accurate prediction of volcanic ash dispersal and sedimentation, the settling of ash particles at particle volume fractions (?_p) ranging 10^-7-10^-3 was performed in laboratory experiments and reproduced by numerical simulations that take into account first the two-way and then the four-way coupling. Results show that the velocity of particles settling together can exceed the velocity of particles settling individually by up to 4 times for ?_p?~?10^-3. Comparisons between experimental and simulation results reveal that, during the sedimentation process, the settling velocity is largely enhanced by particle-fluid interactions but partly hindered by particle-particle interactions with increasing ?_p. Combining the experimental and numerical results, we provide an empirical model allowing correction of the settling velocity of particles of any size, density, and shape, as a function of ?_p. These corrections will impact volcanic plume modelling results as well as remote sensing retrieval techniques for plume parameters.

SUBMITTER: Del Bello E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5206740 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature