A numerical study of particle motion and two‐phase interaction in aeolian sand transport using a coupled large eddy simulation – discrete element method

Wind‐blown sand movement, considered as a particle‐laden two‐phase flow, was simulated by a new numerical code developed in the present study. The discrete element method was employed to model the contact force between sand particles. Large eddy simulation was used to solve the turbulent atmospheric boundary layer. Motions of sand particles were traced in the Lagrangian frame. Within the near‐surface region of the atmospheric boundary layer, interparticle collisions will significantly alter the velocity of sand. The sand phase is quite dense in this region, and its feedback force on fluid motion cannot be ignored. By considering the interparticle collision and two‐phase interaction, four‐way coupling was achieved in the numerical code. Profiles of sand velocity from the simulations were in good agreement with experimental measurements. The mass flux shows an exponential decay and is comparable to reported experimental and field measurements. The turbulence intensities and shear stress of sand particles were estimated from particle root‐mean‐square velocities. Distributions of slip velocity and feedback force were analysed to reveal the interactions between sand particles and the continuous fluid phase.     

Improved discrete element modeling for proppant embedment into rock surfaces

Brinell indentation tests were performed on Montney siltstone, and the results were compared with discrete element indentation simulations that use the micro-parameters calibrated using compression test data from the same siltstone samples. The simulated proppant indentation into the rock surface can be 15% less than the laboratory measurements. A lower effective particle–particle modulus and thus a lower Young’s modulus are needed in discrete element models for proper simulation of indentation. An equation to find the appropriate value of Young’s modulus for indentation simulation is proposed using Brinell indentation tests including 198 laboratory tests and 32 discrete element simulations. This equation can improve the prediction of Young’s modulus and thus the particle–particle effective modulus for indentation simulations to match the measured force–indentation depth curve in the laboratory. Using the improved micro-parameters, a parametric analysis of the influence of rock Young’s modulus and proppant particle size on proppant embedment was performed. An equation to estimate Brinell hardness as a function of Young’s modulus and closure stress was derived. A practical procedure was developed to predict proppant embedment from the estimated hardness. The predictions agree with the laboratory measurements in a case study on the Montney Formation.

     

结构性砂土静力触探试验离散元分析

为研究结构性砂土静力触探的宏微观力学特性,在10 g重力场中生成一个净砂地基;将一个考虑胶结厚度的微观胶结接触模型引入到净砂地基中以生成结构性砂土地基;用一定速率移动探杆以模拟结构性砂土中的静力触探过程,其中,探杆由4面刚性墙组成。结果表明,随着贯入深度的增加,锥尖贯入阻力逐渐增大,增长速度逐渐减慢,在达到临界深度后贯入阻力在某一定值附近波动;锥尖部位有明显的力链集中现象,力链的集中程度和范围会随着贯入深度的增加而逐渐提高和扩大;静力触探过程中,探杆两侧的土体经历了明显的加载和卸载过程,且土体主应力方向发生偏转;离探杆越远,主应力偏转速度越慢,最终偏转角越小;不同深度处平均纯转动率（APR）的变化趋势基本相同,而APR最大值会随着土体深度而逐渐增加;探杆的贯入会使土颗粒间胶结发生破坏,胶结的破坏形式主要有拉剪破坏和压剪破坏两种,而拉剪破坏数目要比压剪破坏数目多。     

Feasible packing of granular materials in discrete-element modelling of cone-penetration testing

This paper explores how the discrete-element method (DEM) was found to play an increasingly important role in cone penetration test (CPT) where continuum-mechanics-based analysis tools are insufficient. We investigated several crucial features of CPT simulations in the two-dimensional DEM. First, the microparameters (stiffness and friction) of discrete material tailored to mimic clean, saturated sand, which is used in cone-penetration tests, were calibrated by curve-fitting drained triaxial tests. Then, three series of cone-penetration simulations were conducted to explore (1) top boundary conditions, (2) reasonable size of discrete particles at different initial porosities, and (3) limit initial porosity of the model for a balance between accurate representation and computational efficiency. Further, we compared the cone-penetration resistance obtained in the laboratory and numerical simulations for the range of relative densities.     

Discrete element modeling of crushable sands considering realistic particle shape effect

This study proposed a novel approach for generating crushable agglomerates with realistic particle shapes in discrete element modeling (DEM). The morphologies of sand particles were obtained by X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning and image processing. Based on the particle surface reconstructed by spherical harmonic analysis, the crushable agglomerates with realistic particle shapes can be generated in DEM simulations. The results of single particle crushing tests showed that particle shapes significantly influence the fracture patterns and crushing strengths of sand particles. Furthermore, two one-dimensional compression tests were conducted to investigate the particle shape effect on micro- and macro-mechanical behaviors of crushable sands.     

考虑转速比影响的砂土中螺旋挤扩钻具成孔特性宏细观模型试验

以福建标准砂为材料,采用宏细观模型试验方法,分析了转速比对松砂和密砂地基中螺旋挤扩钻具成孔特性的影响。宏观上,研究了竖向阻力、扭矩和土体应力随贯入深度的变化规律;细观上,结合环氧树脂砂土固化方法与数字图像分析技术,探讨了孔周土体相对密实度变化及其组构演化规律。试验结果表明,无论松砂还是密砂,钻具贯入时的竖向阻力、扭矩及孔周土体最大径向应力均随着转速比的增加而减小;钻具贯入导致松砂地基中钻头深度和孔周土体均发生挤密,而对于密砂则均发生不同程度的体胀;无论松砂还是密砂,孔周砂土切块环向面上的接触法向各向异性程度均随着转速比的增加而减小,而转速比对其径向面上的接触法向各向异性分布影响不大。该试验结果有助于提升对螺旋挤土桩成孔过程宏细观机制的认识。     

冻结砂土力学性质的离散元模拟

基于离散单元法颗粒流理论,土体颗粒单元间采用接触黏结模型中来考虑冻土中冰的胶结作用,建立了冻结砂土的颗粒流模型。通过改变计算模型中颗粒单元的参数,模拟了在不同冻结温度以及不同围压下冻结砂土的宏观力学性质,并与冻结砂土的室内试验结果进行了比较,结果表明：颗粒流方法可以较好地模拟冻结砂土的应力-应变关系以及剪切带的发展变化过程,颗粒流细观参数对温度具有显著的依赖性。研究结果对离散单元法在特殊土中的应用具有一定的理论和应用价值。     

砂土中单桩竖向抗压承载机制的离散元分析

将单桩视为平面问题,采用二维离散单元法分析了砂土中单桩竖向抗压承载机制。首先利用离散元模拟地基的形成、挖孔灌注桩的成桩过程以及地基土的双轴压缩试验;然后通过离散元模拟单桩竖向抗压静载试验,分析其承载机制。结果表明：随着桩的沉降增大,桩端阻力一直增大,桩侧摩阻力先增大后达到稳定值;单位桩长侧摩阻力从桩顶到桩端呈非线性增长趋势;当荷载达到桩的极限承载力时,桩端发生刺入破坏,导致桩侧与桩端附近土体的转动场梯度、应力场梯度增大,主应力发生大角度旋转。     

Particle shape effect on macro‐ and micro‐behaviors of monodisperse ellipsoids

The microscopic and macroscopic behaviors of assemblages of monodisperse ellipsoids with different particle shapes were studied using the discrete element method. Four samples were created with 1170 identical prolate ellipsoids. The samples were compressed isotropically to 100 kPa. Then triaxial compression tests were carried out to very large strains until the ultimate state was reached. This paper presents typical macroscopic result including stress–strain relationship and volumetric behavior. In addition, the fabric of the samples was examined at the initial state, at the peak shear strength state, and at the ultimate state. We studied the evolution of three vector‐typed micromechanical arguments with strain including the particle orientation, branch vector, and normal contact force. The normal contact force (micromechanical argument) was found to have a direct relationship with the principal stress ratio (macroscopic parameter). The angles between these vectors were also investigated. The maximum angle between vectors is related to particle shape. The results indicate that the distributions and the maximum values of these angles do not change with loading. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The response of flexible pipes buried in sand to static surface stress

A series of laboratory tests on thin-walled PVC-U (i.e. very flexible) pipes buried in sand is described. The tests were conducted in a glass-fronted test tank, the pipe being positioned up against the glass with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the glass. This allowed direct observation of the sand–pipe interactions. Photographs were taken through the glass allowing discrete measurement of pipe and soil displacements during pipe installation and subsequent surface loading. This paper discusses the influences on pipe response of installation method, cover depth and pipe stiffness as increasing static surface stress was applied. The results of the laboratory tests indicate very clearly the importance of well-controlled backfilling around flexible buried pipes to ensure their long-term performance. The stiffness of the pipe affects the way it behaves and hence its performance in resisting applied stresses. This is demonstrated by the observed changes in arching effects above pipes of different stiffness. The effect of increasing cover depth is demonstrated and confirms previous research findings regarding the influence of the ground surface on pipe performance. The results clearly demonstrate the valuable insight afforded by direct observation of the soil–pipe interaction during installation and the subsequent loading of flexible pipes.     

不同级配珊瑚砂水泥胶结体的破坏行为分析

为探究不同级配的珊瑚砂水泥胶结体在静、动荷载下的破坏行为,利用落锤冲击试验机对不同级配的珊瑚砂水泥胶结体试样进行了一系列冲击试验,并结合静力压缩试验,综合分析了珊瑚砂水泥胶结体的力学行为及破坏形态。试验结果表明：珊瑚砂的级配区间越广,其水泥试块的抗压强度越大、抗冲击性能越强、受冲击破坏程度越小且破碎角逐渐递减;珊瑚砂水泥试块在不同种类的荷载作用下展现出不一样的破坏形态,区别于混凝土试块。在此基础上,建立了三维离散元模型,以模拟的应力-应变曲线与静力试验结果相吻合作为PFC细观参数的选取原则,并利用该细观参数对试块冲击试验进行数值重现。通过细观分析可以看出：从裂隙分布角度分析,随着级配区间越广、平均粒径的增大,均匀且分散的冲击微裂隙会越来越集中往某个方向发展,使得试块的裂缝数量减小、破损程度减轻。从系统黏结力角度分析,级配区间范围窄的试块内部黏结力较小且分布均匀,级配区间范围广的试块内部黏结力较大且分布不均匀。     

Pore‐scale modeling of surface erosion in a particle bed

A fully coupled transient two‐dimensional model was employed to study fundamentals of flood‐induced surface erosion in a particle bed. The interaction of the liquid and solid phases is the key mechanism related to surface erosion. The solid phase was idealized at a particle scale by using the discrete element method. The fluid phase was modeled at a mesoscale level and solved using the lattice Boltzmann method. The fluid forces applied on the particles were calculated on the basis of the momentum the fluid exchanges with the particle. The proposed approach was used to model both single particles and particle beds subjected to Couette flow conditions. The behavior of both the single particle and the particle bed depended on particle diameter and surface shear fluid velocity. The conducted simulations show that the fluid flow profile penetrates the bed for a small distance. This penetration initiates sheet‐flow and surface erosion as the fluid interacts with particles. The effect of suppressing particle rotation on the fluid‐induced forces on the particle was also examined. Suppressing particle spinning may lead to underestimated erosion rate. Results of fluid and particle velocities were compared against experimental results and appeared to agree with the observed trends.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

海洋静力触探在海上平台桩基承载力计算中的应用

静力触探探测具有原位性、连续性、高效性以及高分辨率的优点,利用海洋静力触探探测成果计算海上平台桩基承载力具有非常大的应用空间。以胜利油田埕岛海域某平台为例,使用ROSON100型海洋静力触探仪对平台各桩腿开展原位探测,同步进行钻探取样及室内土工参数测试。分别利用静力触探和钻探取样测试成果计算了平台桩基承载力,对比讨论了3种桩基承载力计算方法之间的异同。结果表明:3种方法对应的桩侧摩阻力随埋深变化整体趋势基本一致;基于一定区域工程经验,钻探规范法和静探间接法得到的桩端阻力、单桩极限承载力基本吻合,而静探直接法得到的桩端阻力和单桩极限承载力相较前两者明显偏大;考虑以粉砂作为持力层的前提下3种桩基极限承载力计算方法表现出较好的兼容性。研究成果可为海洋工程桩基承载力计算提供新的借鉴,具有一定科学意义和应用价值。     

砂土地基中吸力式沉箱的极限沉贯深度分析

吸力式沉箱是广泛应用于离岸结构物中的新型基础形式,贯入分析方法的研究是很重要的课题。分析了砂性土地基吸力贯入过程中的渗流状况,得出了筒内壁的压降比率与贯入深径比的关系公式,分析评估了抽吸作用对筒内壁压降比率的影响,提出了砂土地基中吸力贯入阻力和地基极限吸力的简便计算方法,给出了砂土地基中极限贯入深径比的计算公式,分析了各种砂土地基中的吸力贯入极限深径比。不计筒体自重和抽吸效应影响时,这一比值介于2.1～2.5之间。     

钙质砂与硅质砂液化特性对比试验研究

钙质砂颗粒具有形状不规则、多孔隙、强度低、易破碎等特点,较硅质砂表现出更为复杂的液化变形特性.本文对相同级配的钙质砂和硅质砂进行了物性试验、不排水循环三轴试验、轻型动力触探试验,研究两种砂在物理性质、抗液化能力和贯入阻力三方面的差异,分析实验结果得到结论如下:(1)钙质砂比硅质砂具有更大的孔隙比和内摩擦角,这与钙质砂颗...     

基于MatDEM的砂土侧限压缩试验离散元模拟研究

离散元法基于非连续介质力学理论,尤其适用于砂土等离散介质体的数值模拟研究。利用岩土体离散元模拟软件MatDEM的二次开发功能,研发了砂土侧限压缩试验三维离散元模拟器。对三个不同级配砂土试样进行了侧限压缩试验,并且进行了与之相对应的数值模拟,通过分析对比试验结果与数值模拟结果验证了所开发模拟器的有效性。模拟结果表明:离散元法可以很好地反应砂土压缩过程中的配位数变化;每个模拟样品中,粒径较小的单元受到较大的平均压力,导致平均位移较大;数值计算结果的主要误差是由离散元颗粒自身的泊松比引起的。研究突破了常规土力学研究方法的局限性,为今后岩土工程离散元模拟研究提供了参考。      

平均粒径对砂土剪切特性的影响及细观机理

针对平均粒径对砂土剪切特性的影响作用,结合室内试验和离散元模拟方法对不同平均粒径砂土进行了细观研究。基于3种不同平均粒径砂土的直剪试验结果,通过建立反映砂土剪切试验特征的PFC（particle flow code）颗粒流模型,详细研究了不同粒径砂土在剪切过程中土样体积变化、力链网络、孔隙率和配位数等细观结构参数的变化特征和规律,并从细观角度分析了颗粒粒径对土样宏观剪切特性的影响机制。结果表明：具有不同平均粒径砂土的细观结构参数在剪切过程中存在显著差异,并且其细观参数差异主要集中体现在剪切带处;剪切力学特性的影响主要体现在抗剪强度和剪胀效应方面,砂土平均粒径越大,抗剪强度越高,剪胀效应越明显;具有不同平均粒径的砂土在剪切过程中土颗粒运动规律及剪切带形态变化特征存在一定的差异,平均粒径越大,剪切带内上跨式颗粒占比越大,剪切带厚度越大。     

Behavior of sand–rubber particle mixtures: experimental observations and numerical simulations

A series of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations are conducted to explore the characteristics of mixtures composed of sand and rubber particles of the same median diameter. The mixtures are prepared with different volumetric sand fractions (sf = V_sand/V_total). The experiment focuses on assessing the strain level on the characteristics of the mixture with the volume fraction of each component. Numerical simulations using the discrete element method are performed to obtain insight into the microscale behavior and internal mechanism of the mixtures. The experimental results show that the behavior of the mixtures is dependent on the relative sand and rubber particles composition with variation in the strain levels. The numerical simulation reveals the effect of the soft rubber particle inclusion in the mixture on the micromechanical parameters. In low sand fraction mixtures, a high shear stress along the contact is mobilized, and the stress state is driven to a more anisotropic condition because of the relatively high particle friction angle of the rubber. The rubber particles play different roles with the strain level in the mixture, including increasing the coordination number and controlling plasticity of the mixture in a small strain, preventing buckling of the force chain in an intermediate strain, and leading to contractive behavior in a large strain. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

刚性块体压入颗粒体系时的受力及力链演变

颗粒体系由大量离散颗粒组成,普遍存在于自然界中,比如砂土地基、泥石流及滑坡体等。外荷载通常沿着准直形的路径在体系内传递,形成区别于单个颗粒和整个体系的细观结构--力链,亦即颗粒物质具有典型的多尺度特征。采用颗粒离散元方法模拟刚性块体压入颗粒体系的过程,计算得到了刚性块体底部所受阻力与压入深度的幂率关系;给出力链的判断准则和搜索强力链程序,构建颗粒体系强力链网络,并分析了压入试验过程中力链的演变及其长度的分布规律。     

Study on the mechanical behavior of sands using 3D discrete element method with realistic particle models

Presented is a study on the geometrical characteristics of sand particles and the mechanical behavior of sand material under external loading. Based on computed tomography technique, a reconstruction method of granular particles was developed and used to build a database of 3D geometrical models for sand particles. The studied sand particles showed good regularities in morphological characteristics and thus were suitable to be used for the random generation of numerical samples. DEM tests using realistically shaped particles were proven to better simulate the mechanical behavior of the sample during elastoplastic loading stage, which was an issue for the simplified spherical particles. The generation, extension, and breakage of the force chains controlled the strain softening behavior of sands. Anisotropy analysis using the spherical harmonic series showed that the evolution of anisotropy directions and parameters corresponded well with the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the material. Pore volume computation based on Voronoi diagram was performed to illustrate the formation and evolution of localized shear zone. The mesoscopic analysis showed that particle shape significantly influences the mechanical behavior of sands and thus should be properly modeled in numerical simulations.