The effect of sound field on the cohesive particle motion in a 2-D sound-assisted fluidized bed is performed by means of discrete element method (DEM) in which the particle contact force, cohesive force, sound force and fluid force are considered. The distributions of concentration and velocity of cohesive particles is predicted in a sound-assisted fluidized bed. The effects of sound pressure level and sound frequency are studied. Computed granular temperature is increased with the increase of sound pressure level. The acoustic force increases, reaches maximum, and then decreases with the increase of sound frequency. A useful range of frequencies ranging between 100 and 120 Hz is found with a sound pressure level of 120 dB at which the effectiveness of the sound wave in improving fluidization of cohesive particles is most remarkable. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.