The coagulation kernel homogeneity is used to predict gelation and self-preservation for various mechanisms of turbulence-induced coagulation and verified by detailed sectional simulations. Self-preserving distributions are attained in the inertial regime (particle diameter, d(p), much larger than the Kolmogorov microscale of turbulence, n) while coagulation by accelerative mechanisms like fluid fluctuation or gravity in the viscous regime (dp << n) leads to gelation. Shear-induced coagulation in the viscous regime (that is commonly used in aerosol dynamic simulations) leads to gelation also. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.