Mechanical flocculation in flowing fiber suspensions

Non-Brownian fibers commonly flocculate in flowing suspensions. A particle level simulation technique modeling fibers as chains of rods connected by hinges is developed to probe flocculation. Simulations show that flocculation can be induced solely by interfiber friction-attractive forces between fibers are not necessary. Simulated mechanical floc characteristics are consistent with experimental observations. In contrast, simulations of flocs formed by attractive forces behave qualitatively differently.