Authors:
Abstract: Clustering of particles in granular-fluid systems has been known to exist for some time. Wilhelm and Kwauk [1] were among the first to show evidence of particle clustering in fluidized beds with others following suit with similar experiments [2-10]. Kaye and Boardman [10] suggested that particle clustering is significant in many systems where solids concentrations exceed 0.05%. Particle drop experiments by Jayaweera et al. [3] showed that clusters have stable size ranges of two to six particles with clusters greater than six particles having a tendency to split and form stable subgroups of clusters. Fortes et al. [7] observed similar-sized clusters to be stable up to a particle Reynolds number of 1800.