Numerical simulations of aggregate breakup in bounded and unbounded turbulent flows
Breakup of small aggregates in fully developed turbulence is studied by means of
direct numerical simulations in a series of typical bounded and unbounded flow
configurations, such as a turbulent channel flow, a developing boundary layer and
homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The simplest criterion for breakup is adopted,
whereby aggregate breakup occurs when the local hydrodynamic stress "1=2, with
" being the energy dissipation at the position of the aggregate, overcomes a given
threshold cr, which is characteristic for a given type of aggregate.