Work

Resolved Large Eddy Simulations of a Settling or Rising Spherical Microplastic Particle

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The settling and rising of spherical microplastic particles with different Reynolds numbers, Re, were studied using a fully coupled large eddy simulation–discrete element method (LES-DEM) model, where the particles were treated using the immersed boundary method. Twelve different simulations were performed to find the drag coefficient CD, particle trajectories, and wake patterns of both settling and rising microplastic particles. Results were compared to experimental findings from the literature and the comparisons show that the present LES-DEM model produces accurate values for CD when Re≲310 and qualitatively captures both wake patterns and particle trajectories for 1≲Re≲5235.

Source: Microplastics

DOI: 10.3390/microplastics5010026

Authors: Koray Deniz Goral, Bjarke Eltard Larsen, Hasan Gokhan Guler, Stefan Carstensen, Erik Damgaard Christensen, David R. Fuhrman

Institutions: Technical University of Denmark, Middle East Technical University

Language: English

Topic: Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207

Funder: Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond