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Fundamental understanding on the collective behavior of particulate systems under combined electro-mechanical loading environments is sought in several interdisciplinary applications. A few examples are,in the design of electrostatic granular valves, piezoelectric powder compacts/sensors, electromechanical separators for minerals and ores, powder injectors, and microbial particulate fuel cells . The developments in micro/nano technologies are pushing the limits of miniature particulate fabrications by designing particle interfaces with enhanced functionalities. This is achieved by precisely controlling the nature of interparticle forces acting between particles.Further, Ambient Intelligence and Virtual Process Creation Tools are expected to aid our classrooms in the future . Design of AmI for granular media under combined loading environments should be on the one hand simple computationally less expensive, and on the other hand should not compromise the physics that govern the collective behavior of granular media. Hence, a clear understanding of the roles played by force components will help us to deduce the nonlinear terms in their force-separation relations, as appropriate.

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The author is doing his PhD research on the topic"Modeling, Simulation and Experimental Characterization of Confined Impinging Jets Precipitators" in Faculty of Engineering in University of Porto,Department of Chemical Engineering,Porto,Portugal.The author completed his B.Tech in University of Madras, India and M.Sc in University of Leeds,U.K.

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