Sedimentation of Rigid Cylindrical Particles with Mechanical Contacts

A collision model of two cylindrical particles is put forward. Based on the model the sedimentation of rigid cylindrical particles with mechanical contacts is simulated numerically by using the lattice Boltzmann method. Some numerical results are compared with the experimental ones given by us and others, and good agreements are found. In the sedimentation process, particles will rotate and drift at any initial orientation and terminal Reynolds number. The orientation, lateral position, drifty and sedimenting velocity of particles change periodically at small terminal Reynolds number. With the increasing terminal Reynolds number, the periodicity disappears, and an inverted T-structure forms. This structure appears more quickly and lasts for a longer time at larger terminal Reynolds number.