Interference phenomena between particle flattening and particle rounding in free vertical sedimentation processes

In this paper interference phenomena between particle flattening and particle rounding during the free vertical sedimentation of natural particles are investigated. Particle flattening is measured by the Corey Shape Factor (CSF), particle rounding by the Powers Index (P). Using Dietrich's equation, the effect of the flattening and the effect of the rounding on the terminal fall velocity of the particle can be studied separately. This is done by examining the influence of particle flattening and particle rounding on the Particle Sedimentation Coefficient (PSC), which is the ratio of the nominal diameter D_n of the particle to the equivalent sedimentation diameter D_b. It appears that particle flattening and particle rounding are interdependent so that interference phenomena occur. In the case of positive interference, the combined effect of flattening and rounding on the PSC is larger than the sum of the effects of both parameters separately. If, on the other hand, the combined effect is smaller than the sum of the single effects, negative interference occurs. For fine-grained particles, the more the shape of a particle differs from a sphere in one variable (flattening or rounding), the higher will be the influence of the other variable on the free vertical fall. For coarse-grained particles, the inverse occurs. For very fine-grained particles (D_n < 200 μm (air) or < 370 μm (water)) the influence of particle rounding on free vertical settling is negligibly small. For coarser grained particles, flattening is the most important parameter if the grains are strongly flattened. If not, rounding will be the governing parameter.     

Estimating the settling velocity of bioclastic sediment using common grain‐size analysis techniques

Most techniques for estimating settling velocities of natural particles have been developed for siliciclastic sediments. Therefore, to understand how these techniques apply to bioclastic environments, measured settling velocities of bioclastic sedimentary deposits sampled from a nearshore fringing reef in Western Australia were compared with settling velocities calculated using results from several common grain‐size analysis techniques (sieve, laser diffraction and image analysis) and established models. The effects of sediment density and shape were also examined using a range of density values and three different models of settling velocity. Sediment density was found to have a significant effect on calculated settling velocity, causing a range in normalized root‐mean‐square error of up to 28%, depending upon settling velocity model and grain‐size method. Accounting for particle shape reduced errors in predicted settling velocity by 3% to 6% and removed any velocity‐dependent bias, which is particularly important for the fastest settling fractions. When shape was accounted for and measured density was used, normalized root‐mean‐square errors were 4%, 10% and 18% for laser diffraction, sieve and image analysis, respectively. The results of this study show that established models of settling velocity that account for particle shape can be used to estimate settling velocity of irregularly shaped, sand‐sized bioclastic sediments from sieve, laser diffraction, or image analysis‐derived measures of grain size with a limited amount of error. Collectively, these findings will allow for grain‐size data measured with different methods to be accurately converted to settling velocity for comparison. This will facilitate greater understanding of the hydraulic properties of bioclastic sediment which can help to increase our general knowledge of sediment dynamics in these environments.     

An experimental investigation of sand–mud suspension settling behaviour: implications for bimodal mud contents of submarine flow deposits

The settling behaviour of particulate suspensions and their deposits has been documented using a series of settling tube experiments. Suspensions comprised saline solution and noncohesive glass‐ballotini sand of particle size 35·5 μm < d < 250 μm and volume fractions, φ_s, up to 0·6 and cohesive kaolinite clay of particle size d < 35·5 μm and volume fractions, φ_m, up to 0·15. Five texturally distinct deposits were found, associated with different settling regimes: (I) clean, graded sand beds produced by incremental deposition under unhindered or hindered settling conditions; (II) partially graded, clean sand beds with an ungraded base and a graded top, produced by incremental deposition under hindered settling conditions; (III) graded muddy sands produced by compaction with significant particle sorting by elutriation; (IV) ungraded clean sand produced by compaction and (V) ungraded muddy sand produced by compaction. A transition from particle size segregation (regime I) to suppressed size segregation (regime II or III) to virtually no size segregation (IV or V) occurred as sediment concentration was increased. In noncohesive particulate suspensions, segregation was initially suppressed at φ_s ～ 0·2 and entirely inhibited at φ_s ≥ 0·6. In noncohesive and cohesive mixtures with low sand concentrations (φ_s < 0·2), particle segregation was initially suppressed at φ_m ～ 0·07 and entirely suppressed at φ_m ≥ 0·13. The experimental results have a number of implications for the depositional dynamics of submarine sediment gravity flows and other particulate flows that carry sand and mud; because the influence of moving flow is ignored in these experiments, the results will only be applicable to flows in which settling processes, in the depositional boundary, dominate over shear‐flow processes, as might be the case for rapidly decelerating currents with high suspended load fallout rates. The ‘abrupt’ change in settling regimes between regime I and V, over a relatively small change in mud concentration (<5% by volume), favours the development of either mud‐poor, graded sandy deposits or mud‐rich, ungraded sandy deposits. This may explain the bimodality in sediment texture (clean ‘turbidite’ or muddy ‘debrite’ sand or sandstone) found in some turbidite systems. Furthermore, it supports the notion that distal ‘linked’ debrites could form because of a relatively small increase in the mud concentration of turbidity currents, perhaps associated with erosion of a muddy sea floor. Ungraded, clean sand deposits were formed by noncohesive suspensions with concentrations 0·2 ≤ φ_s ≤ 0·4. Hydrodynamic sorting is interpreted as being suppressed in this case by relatively high bed aggradation rates which could also occur in association with sustained, stratified turbidity currents or noncohesive debris flows with relatively high near‐bed sediment concentrations.     

Terminal settling velocity of commonly occurring sand grains

Published measurements of terminal settling velocity for commonly occurring sands are used to develop three equations which join into a single segmented curve of dimensionless form. Results are noticeably different from those for spheres of similar diameter, and permit calculation of the settling velocity for usual sand grains without specification of exact grain shape. For quartz in water, the three equations of different settling regimes correspond approximately to: very fine sand; fine to coarse sand; and very coarse sand.     

Alteration of the equal settling ratio of fine particles by vertically-oscillating water

An equal settling ratio is an important factor in estimating particle separation accuracy. However, this factor is often calculated using the settling velocity in stationary water, there are no examples of calculation of the equal settling ratio in an actual separator. This is difficult because particle movement in a separator is very complicated, and even simple periodic motions, such as the oscillation field used with many separators, are ignored in many cases. The authors have previously reported on the relation between the equal settling ratio and the oscillation frequency by analysis of particle movement in vertically oscillating water, using spherical particles of glass (average size 435 μm) and zirconia (202 μm) which have the same settling velocity in stationary water. In this study, the influence of particle diameter on the change in the settling velocity in oscillating water was experimentally investigated for three pairs of glass and zirconia particles having different sizes under 0.5 mm, which have the same settling velocity in stationary water. The settling velocities of different-sized particles decreased at different rates in oscillating water, indicating that the equal settling ratio is reduced by water oscillation. We conclude that water oscillation improves the accuracy of size separation for glass particles over 300 μm and zirconia particles over 150 μm when glass and zirconia particles are separated from each other with the difference of these settling velocities.     

Sustained high-density turbidity currents and the deposition of thick massive sands

The origin of massive sands in turbidite successions has commonly been attributed to the rapid dumping of sand due to flow unsteadiness in collapsing, single surge-type, high-density turbidity currents. The general applicability of this model is questioned here, and we propose that rapid deposition of massive sands also occurs due to non-uniformity in prolonged, quasi-steady high-density turbidity currents. We attempt to eliminate ambiguity in the use of the terms ‘deceleration’and ‘unsteadiness’with respect to non-uniform sediment gravity flows, and stress that, as with any particulate current, unsteadiness is not a prerequisite of sediment deposition. We propose a mechanism of gradual aggradation of sand beneath a sustained steady or quasi-steady current, and upward-migration of a depositional flow boundary that is dominated by grain hyperconcentration and hindered settling. Formation of tractional structures is prevented by the absence of a sharp rheological interface between the lowest parts of the flow and the just-formed dewatering deposit. Deposition continues as long as the downward grain flux to the depositional flow boundary is balanced by grain supply from above or from upcurrent. Massive sand deposited in this way is not, strictly, a result of ‘direct suspension sedimentation’in that it is characterized by grain interactions, hindered settling, shear and, possibly, by interlocking of grains. The thickness of the resulting massive sand bears no relation to the thickness of the parental current, and the vertical variation within the deposit may reveal little about the vertical structure of the current, even during deposition. Thin, normally graded tops or mud drapes represent the eventual waning of sustained currents.     

Fluidized bed elutriation of carbonate sands

Elutriation from a fluidized bed provides an accurate, economical, direct method of sediment grading by terminal velocity. This is of particular value in studying populations of irregular particles in the range medium sand to granule (e.g. carbonate sands). A column suitable for such material (terminal settling velocity 1-30 cm s^?1) is described and sample results from Connemara Lithothamnion beach material are given.     

考虑钙质砂细观颗粒形状影响的液体拖曳力系数试验

钙质砂作为南海岛礁填筑常用的岩土材料,其渗透性很大程度上决定着填筑后土体的固结和沉降。拖曳力系数是表达流体对土体颗粒表面力的参数,也是表征颗粒状土体渗透能力的一个重要参数,目前国内外对钙质砂拖曳力系数的研究十分有限。首先引入一个修正的三维参数 对钙质砂这种天然非规则颗粒材料的形状进行定量描述,然后开展一系列单个钙质砂颗粒在液体中沉降试验,利用高速相机记录颗粒沉降过程,结合图像处理技术获得颗粒沉降平衡速度Ut,进而计算出拖曳力系数CD和雷诺数Re,最后拟合出包含CD、Re及 三个参数的钙质砂拖曳力系数半经验模型。结果发现,在相同雷诺数条件下钙质砂的形状系数 越大,拖曳力系数越小。通过与其他研究结果对比发现,其表面微孔隙越发育,拖曳力系数越小的规律。该模型能够考虑不规则颗粒形状对拖曳力系数的影响,从而提高对土体渗透性预测的精度,对南海岛礁填筑工程中钙质砂固结和沉降的计算也具有重要意义。     

细颗粒组分含量对钙质砂抗剪强度的影响

由于吹填过程的水力分选作用钙质砂土地基颗粒分布不均匀,容易形成分布不均、形态各异的以不同细粒含量的粉细砂层为主的细粒汇集层,引起钙质砂土地基承载力和不均匀沉降问题。开展不同细粒含量的粉细砂三轴固结排水剪切试验,分析细粒含量对钙质砂土力学特性的影响。研究结果表明,（1）当细粒含量增加时相同围压下土样剪胀性逐渐减弱,且峰值偏应力也逐渐减小;（2）各组试样干密度为1.40 g/cm3状态下各含量粉细砂均表现出应变软化特征,当细粒含量为10%时粉细砂土体强度稳定性最差,之后稳定性随细粒含量增加而逐渐增大;（3）钙质细砂由于颗粒咬合作用,具有表观黏聚力,当细粒含量小于40%时,随着细粒含量增加,颗粒之间的咬合作用显著降低,表观黏聚力线性减小。研究成果可为粉细砂层的地基处理及边坡稳定分析提供参考。     

风沙流中沙粒浓度分布的实验研究

利用粒子图像测速技术（PIV）,在风洞内对与天然沙接近的石英沙风沙流沙颗粒浓度沿高度分布进行了研究。对 3种不同轴线风速研究结果表明,风沙流中沙粒浓度沿水平方向基本不变,而随高度呈指数衰减,而且其衰减速率与风速密切相关。风速越大,衰减速率越慢;风速越小,衰减速率越快。风沙运动一旦发生时,靠近沙床表面的沙粒浓度随风速变化很小,可以认为趋于稳定,达到最大值。     

The feasibility of a slip velocity model for predicting the enrichment of chromite in a Floatex density separator

The Floatex density separator (FDS) is an industrial separator and works on the principle of hindered settling where the settling rate of a particle in suspension is affected by nearby particles. This phenomenon of hindered settling has been described by various authors using the concept of particle slip velocity. The feasibility of one such slip velocity model proposed by Galvin et al. to predict the separation of chromite in a plant scale FDS was examined. Previously this model was validated only at lab scale with synthetic mixture of various density particles. In order to use this model, the feed chromite ore was characterized and quantified into different density mineral classes and their percentages were estimated by using mineralogical grain count method. The performance of FDS was then predicted using slip velocity model in terms of weight recoveries and composition of different minerals in the FDS underflow product.     

Settling velocities and entrainment thresholds of biogenic sands (shell fragments) under unidirectional flow

Settling velocities and entrainment thresholds of biogenic sedimentary particles, under unidirectional flow conditions, are derived on the basis of settling tower and laboratory flume experiments. Material consisting predominantly of equant blocks (shell fragments of Cerastoderma edule , density, ρ _s=2800 kg m⁻³) or of mica-like flakes and elongate rods ( Mytilus edulis fragments, ρ _s=2720 kg m⁻³) are used in separate series of experiments. Differences in the measured settling and threshold properties are related primarily to particle shape. The selection of a characteristic length scale for non-spherical grains is investigated by comparing two approaches used to define the grain size ( D ) of the sediment samples: grain settling and sieve analysis that are used to derive data for the threshold criteria, in terms of the Shields and Movability diagrams. The empirical curves effectively predict the threshold conditions for any grain shape, provided that grain size is defined in terms of grain settling velocity. However, a functional distinction is made between the characteristic `hydraulic' grain size, defined by grain settling for grain transport applications, and the actual (physical) grain size defined by sieve analysis.     

Factors affecting the nature and rate of dust production from natural dune sands

This paper evaluates the influence of natural sand particle characteristics on the amount and particle-size distributions of dust produced by aeolian abrasion. It contrasts with previous studies of aeolian abrasion by conducting experiments using: (i) whole sand samples, as opposed to selected size fractions; (ii) natural, mature dune sands, rather than artificial or freshly crushed material; and (iii) weathered sands that have acquired a superficial clay coating, instead of grains with clean surfaces. Whilst previous research has found clear, positive relationships between particle size, sorting, roundness and the amount of dust produced by aeolian abrasion, the relationships determined in this study show some variation according to the geomorphological context from which the original samples were obtained. The most important factor affecting the amount and particle-size characteristics of the dust produced was the presence of a clay coating on the grain surface that is removed by the abrasion process. The dust produced by this mechanism had a modal size of 2–5  μ m and material <10  μ m comprised up to 90% of the particles produced.     

A numerical model for sedimentation from highly-concentrated multi-sized suspensions

The principal numerical approach to describing sedimentation from multi-component suspensions (Mirza and Richardson, 1979) has been applied only to systems containing two or three particle size populations, but is theoretically applicable to suspensions containing a wider range of particle sizes. In order to adapt this model to the simulation of sedimentation from natural high-density sediment-laden flows, we have conducted computational tests on the sedimentation of suspensions with up to ten particle size populations. The tests run smoothly with binary systems and sometimes ternary systems, but fail with systems containing more than three particle size populations. One cause of the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and computational tests arises from the method used to calculate the changing concentration of particles in each zone of a stratified settling suspension. In quantifying the changing sediment budget for each sedimentation zone, the equation set fails to include the apparent outflow of finer particle populations across the upper boundary of the zone. In the present study, we express the sediment budget of each particle population within each sedimentation zone as the net sediment flux, the algebraic sum of the apparent particle inflow from the zone's lower boundary and the apparent particle outflow across the zone's upper boundary. This revised model successfully predicts the evolution of multi-component suspensions containing up to ten particle size populations over the length of time required for complete sedimentation, up to 8×10⁵ seconds. It can be used to predict the sediment sorting and the vertical textural variation of beds formed by the simulated sedimentation of a multi-component suspension. The model provides the basis for future computer simulation of sedimentation from highly concentrated sediment flows and for the prediction of downslope textural and structural variations of turbidites.     

Single-particle crushing behaviour of carbonate sands studied by X-ray microtomography and a combined finite–discrete element method

This paper investigates the particle breakage behaviour of a carbonate sand based on single-particle compression experiments with in situ X-ray microtomography scanning (μCT) and a combined finite–discrete element method (FDEM). Specifically, X-ray μCT is applied to extract the information on grain morphology and intra-particle pores of carbonate sand particles to establish an FDEM model. The model is first calibrated by comparing the simulation results of two carbonate sand grains with the corresponding single-particle compression experiment results and then applied to model the stress evolution, cracking propagation and failure of other carbonate sand particles under single-particle compression. To study the influence of intra-particle pores, FDEM modelling of carbonate sands with completely filled intra-particle pores is also performed. The particle strength of carbonate sands both with and without pore filling is found to follow a Weibull distribution, with that of the sand with pore filling being considerably higher. This behaviour is associated with lower stress concentration, resulting in later crack development in the pore-filled sand than in the sand without pore filling. The cracks are found to usually pass through the intra-particle pores. Consequently, a larger proportion of particles fail in the fragmentation mode in the sand without pore filling.

     

基于水下摄影的床面泥沙运动特性试验研究

为提高推移质试验的观测精度与效率,基于水下摄影和粒子跟踪（UP/PTV）技术,实现明槽流床面泥沙运动状态的精细试验观测。通过剔除床面颗粒震颤干扰、设置颗粒临界运动阈值和多重滤波筛选程序,提高采集样本数据的有效性。利用多组低强度推移质试验,提取床面颗粒运动轨迹、速度、单步时长等数据,并进行粒子运动的Lagrange过程分析和概率密度分布（PDF）研究。研究表明:粒间碰撞和近底紊流扫荡的影响使粒子速度在单步步长内呈现先急剧增加再缓慢衰减的变化特征;速度PDF曲线显示细尾Gamma函数特性,同时受粒子震颤效应影响,加速度PDF曲线则具有拉普拉斯分布特征;粒子速度与摩阻流速之间关系密切,保持3.4~3.5的比值;粒子单步时长与步长的联合分布呈幂函数变化规律,拟合曲线指数一般为1.25~1.3。幂律指数大小受推移质输沙强度与床面粒子异质性的影响。     

Hydro-mechanical coupled analysis of near-wellbore fines migration from unconsolidated reservoirs

Oil or gas production from unconsolidated reservoirs could be hampered by sand migration near the wellbore. This paper presents a numerical investigation of production-induced migration of fine sands towards a wellbore drilled in a gap-graded sediment. The solid–fluid interaction is simulated by coupling the discrete element method and the dynamic fluid mesh. With the merit of DEM and a dynamic mesh, the model is capable of naturally capturing particle movements and spatiotemporal variations of hydraulic properties of the sediment at the pore scale. The results show that fine particles are mobilized by radial flow under an imposed hydraulic gradient, and the increase in the hydraulic gradient causes an increase in the fines production. The microscopic pattern of sand migration is clearly visualized through the simulation. The presence of fine particles affects the process of fines migration through two competing mechanisms. Under a low fine content, fine sands mainly serve as the fines production source, and thus, fines production is enhanced as the fine content increases up to a critical value, beyond which fines production is weakened with a further increase in the fine content since the blocking effect gradually dominates. A barrier layer is likely formed during sand migration due to settling and jamming of fine sands at the throats of pores, as fine sands migrate with the radial flow towards the wellbore. This layer is helpful to slow down sand migration, while it could impede production due to reduced permeability in the affected reservoir.

     

盐腔内回填碱渣沉降固结特性室内试验研究

碱渣回填到充满卤水的废弃盐腔后,颗粒会自由沉降到盐腔底部形成沉积层,进而在自重作用下固结。为了解盐腔内回填碱渣的沉降固结特性,以江苏淮安地区碱渣为对象,进行了沉降柱试验和固结试验。试验结果表明:(1)碱渣在卤水中的沉降过程可以分为3个阶段:絮凝阶段、沉降阶段和固结阶段。初始浓度对碱渣的沉降曲线和沉降速率有很大的影响。(2)碱渣颗粒分布、密度、含水率和孔隙比均呈现出分层特性,颗粒粒径、密度随深度的增加而增大,含水率、孔隙比随深度的增大而减小。(3)碱渣具有很高的压缩性,压缩系数a1-2为3.36 MPa-1。在压力范围小于100 kPa下,固结系数随固结压力的增加而显著减小。试验结果对了解盐腔内回填碱渣的沉降固结特性提供了参考,有利于指导回填施工工艺和碱渣的后期处理。     

生物合成FeS及其稳定性柱迁移研究

金属纳米硫化亚铁(FeS)在重/类金属修复上具有广阔的应用前景。使用嗜酸性铁还原菌(JF-5)和硫酸盐还原菌(SRB)合成生物纳米FeS,探讨其自然沉降规律,并使用羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC)作为稳定剂,探讨CMC-FeS在石英砂柱中的迁移特性。结果表明,SRB和JF-5菌液在一定比例下混合即能生成纳米FeS,且当混合菌液中n(Fe)/n(S)=0.2时FeS生成量最多,颗粒物浓度达2 400 mg/L;FeS的自然沉降速率在0.1%CMC溶液中得到有效减缓。对流扩散模型能很好地描述CMC-FeS悬浮颗粒在石英砂柱中的迁移行为,相比于纯水-FeS体系(R²=0.20),其模型相关性最高达0.85;在90、180和360 mL/h这3种输入流速下,中等流速180 mL/h能够获得最佳渗透性,其渗透系数平均值为243.97 cm/h。实验结果表明,CMC-FeS的稳定性和迁移性较纯水-FeS均得到加强,可为土壤污染修复提供理论参考。