Geophysical flows impacting a flexible barrier: effects of solid-fluid interaction

Flexible barriers undergo large deformation to extend the impact duration, and thereby reduce the impact load of geophysical flows. The performance of flexible barriers remains a crucial challenge because there currently lacks a comprehensive criterion for estimating impact load. In this study, a series of centrifuge tests were carried out to investigate different geophysical flow types impacting an instrumented flexible barrier. The geophysical flows modelled include covered in this study include flood, hyperconcentrated flow, debris flow, and dry debris avalanche. Results reveal that the relationship between the Froude number, Fr, and the pressure coefficient α strongly depends on the formation of static deposits called dead zones which induce static loads and whether a run-up or pile-up impact mechanism develops. Test results demonstrate that flexible barriers can attenuate peak impact loads of flood, hyperconcentrated flow, and debris flow by up to 50% compared to rigid barriers. Furthermore, flexible barriers attenuate the impact load of dry debris avalanche by enabling the dry debris to reach an active failure state through large deformation. Examination of the state of static debris deposits behind the barriers indicates that hyperconcentrated and debris flows are strongly influenced by whether excessive pore water pressures regulate the depositional process of particles during the impact process. This results in significant particle rearrangement and similar state of static debris behind rigid barrier and the deformed full-retention flexible barrier, and thus the static loads on both barriers converge.     

Mechanical interpretation of dry granular masses impacting on rigid obstacles

Acta Geotechnica - The evaluation of impact forces exerted by flowing granular masses on rigid obstacles is of fundamental importance for the assessment of the associated risk and for the design of...     

Dry granular masses impacting on rigid obstacles: numerical analysis and theoretical modelling

Acta Geotechnica - The assessment of the time evolution of the impact force exerted by dry flowing masses on rigid obstacles is mandatory for the dynamic design of sheltering structures and the...     

Study of the interaction between dry granular flows and rigid barriers with an SPH model

This study uses an incompressible smoothed‐particle hydrodynamics model to investigate the interaction between dry granular material flows and rigid barriers. The primary aim is to summarise some practical guidelines for the design of debris‐resisting barriers. The granular materials are modelled as a rigid‐perfectly plastic material where the plastic flow corresponds to the critical state. The coupled continuity equation and momentum equation are solved by a semi‐implicit algorithm. Compared with flows in controlled flume experiments, the model adequately reproduces both the kinetic of the flows and the impact force under various conditions. Then the numerical simulations are used to study the detailed interaction process. It is illustrated quantitatively that the interaction force consists of two parts, ie, the earth pressure force caused by the weight of the soil and a dynamic force caused by the internal deformation (flowing mass on top of a dead zone). For the estimation of impact load, this study suggests that an increased earth pressure coefficient depending on the Froude number should be incorporated into the hydrostatic model.     

On the impact of dry granular flow against a rigid barrier with basal clearance via discrete element method

Landslides - Rigid barriers are prevalent structure countermeasures for mitigating granular flow hazards in mountainous areas. To reduce maintenance for barriers, a basal clearance is commonly set...     

Modeling of unsaturated granular flows by a two-layer approach

Flows of partially saturated grain-fluid mixtures over complex curved topography are commonly observed in nature. However, comprehensive understanding of the physics behind them is to date out of reach. To investigate their dynamic process, a two-layer approach is proposed, in which the fluid-saturated granular layer is overlaid by the pure granular material. More specifically, the lower layer is described by a two-phase mixture theory of density preserving solid and fluid constituents. For the upper layer, the single-phase granular mass is treated as a frictional Coulomb-like continuum, and the dilation effect and the influence of the interstitial air are ignored. The capillarity effects and grains-size segregation are not considered in both the layers. The lower and upper layers interact at an interface which is a material surface for the fluid phase, but across which the mass exchange for the granular phase may take place. The granular mass exchange across the layer interface is parameterized by an entrainment type postulate. In addition, the classical jump conditions are employed to connect both layers at the interface dynamically. Furthermore, we perform the depth-averaged technique for the saturated grain-fluid mixture lower layer and the pure granular upper layer, respectively, to simplify the governing equations established. It is demonstrated that the resulting model equations can be reduced to most of the existing single-layer pure granular flow models and saturated two-phase single-layer debris flow models. Numerical solutions demonstrate that the present two-layer model can describe flows of partially saturated grain-fluid mixtures and the transition process of a saturated grain-fluid mixture into an under-saturated state.     

Stress anisotropy in natural debris flows during impacting a monitoring structure

Landslides - The frictional resistance of rock and debris is supposed to induce stress anisotropy in the unsteady, non-uniform flow of gravitational mass flows, including debris flows. Though...     

颗粒大小对颗粒材料力学行为影响初探

利用一种特殊颗粒材料-玻璃珠进行了一系列室内直剪试验,研究颗粒大小对颗粒材料力学行为的影响。试验一共考虑了3条近乎平行的级配曲线和4种颗粒摩擦情况：干燥状态、水浸润状态、水淹没状态和油浸润状态。试验结果表明,颗粒大小对颗粒材料的力学行为有显著影响,剪胀性随着粒径的增大而增强。为考虑颗粒大小对剪胀性的影响,提出了一种新的剪胀关系式。在该剪胀关系式中,剪胀系数为依赖于颗粒大小和颗粒摩擦等颗粒基本性质的变量。试验研究同时表明临界状态摩擦角随着颗粒大小的增加而增加。此外,从颗粒细观运动的角度提出了颗粒滑动的功能模型,推导出了功能方程,并以此揭示了颗粒大小对临界状态摩擦角影响的细观机制。     

New impact equation using barrier Froude number for the design of dual rigid barriers against debris flows

Landslides - In the design of multiple rigid barriers, the height of the first barrier governs the impact dynamics of debris flow on the next barrier in a channel. However, current design...     

Micromechanical investigation of the particle size effect on the shear strength of uncrushable granular materials

Particle size strongly influences the shear strength of granular materials. However, previous studies of the particle size effect have focused mainly on the macroscopic behavior of granular materials, neglecting the associated micro-mechanism. In this study, the effect of particle size on the shear strength of uncrushable granular materials in biaxial testing is investigated using the discrete element method (DEM). First, a comprehensive calibration against experimental results is conducted to obtain the DEM parameters for two types of quartz sand. Then, a series of biaxial tests are simulated on sands with parallel particle size distributions to investigate the effect of particle size on macro- and microscopic behaviors. Finally, by adopting the rolling resistance method and the clump method, irregular-shaped particles are simulated to investigate how the particle size effect will be influenced by the particle shape. Simulation results demonstrate that (1) the peak shear strength increases with particle size, whereas the residual shear strength is independent of particle size; (2) the thickness of the shear band increases with the particle size, but its ratio decreases with particle size; (3) the particle size effect can be explained by the increase of friction utilization ratio with particle size; and (4) the particle size effect is more significant in granular materials that consist of particles with higher angularity.

     

Analysis of rigid rafts supported by granular piles

Solutions for the magnitude and rate of settlement of rigid foundations supported by soil reinforced with granular piles are presented. An analytic solution using the theory of elasticity is developed for the settlement of the foundation and expressions for evaluating the moment and shear distributions across the foundation are given. A solution for the increase of the rate of settlement due to the presence of the granular piles has been found by a numerical solution of Biot's equations of consolidation.     

双粒子联合冲击破岩仿真研究

单粒子冲击破岩与粒子冲击钻井的真实工况有一定的差异,因此,需要研究多粒子联合冲击破岩的规律。在双粒子联合冲击破岩条件下,利用LS-DYNA的参数化设计语言,采用无量纲化分析方法,选择粒子间距、直径、初速度和入射角度为设计变量,建立了它们与岩石破碎体积和侵入深度之间的关系,并绘制了它们之间的变化关系曲线图。进一步分析这些曲线图的变化规律后发现：间距为0.25个左右的基准直径、粒子直径取0.8~1个基准直径、冲击初速度取每秒32 000~40 000个基准直径、入射角度为0°~40°,粒子冲击破碎岩石效果达到最佳或接近最佳。这些结果可以作为深入研究多粒子联合冲击破岩的参考依据。     

Estimating the impact force generated by granular flow on a rigid obstruction

Flowing sediments such as debris and liquefied soils could exert a tremendous amount of force as they impact objects along their paths. The total impact force generally varies with slope angle, velocity at impact, and thickness of the flowing sediment. Estimation of the impact force of flowing sediments against protective measures such as earth retaining structures is an important factor for risk assessment. In this paper, we conduct small-scale laboratory physical modeling of sand flow at different slopes and measure the impact force exerted by this material on a fixed rigid wall. We also conduct numerical simulations in the Eulerian framework using computational fluid dynamics algorithms to analyze and reproduce the laboratory test results. The numerical simulations take into consideration the overtopping of the wall with sand, which influenced the measured impact force–time history responses. In addition, the numerical simulations are shown to capture accurately the change of the impact force with slope angle. Finally, the modeling approach conducted in this study is used to estimate the quasi-static force generated by the sediment as it comes to rest on the wall following impact.     

Impact force to a rigid obstruction from a granular mass sliding down a smooth incline

The impact force to a rigid obstruction from a granular mass sliding down a smooth incline provides insights into the solid-like and fluid-like behaviors of granular avalanches and useful information for risk assessment and engineering design against landslides. In this study, a series of 2-D flume tests were performed to systematically investigate the effects of inclination angle, sliding distance, and initial relative density on the flow front velocity and impact force on a rigid obstruction. The experimental results show that for inclination angles smaller than the critical state friction angle of sand, an increase in the sliding distance and/or initial relative density results in smaller impact forces; for higher inclination angles, the trend is reversed. Based on the experimental results, an analytical equation is proposed to estimate the flow front velocity and an empirical approach is presented to estimate the maximum impact force based on elastic solid and hydrodynamic methods. The proposed equations are found to provide more accurate predictions for the maximum impact force than similar equations in the literature.     

Modeling for critical state line of granular soil with evolution of grain size distribution due to particle breakage

Determination of the critical state line(CSL)is important to characterize engineering properties of granular soils.Grain size distribution(GSD)has a significant influence on the location of CSL.The influence of particle breakage on the CSL is mainly attributed to the change in GSD due to particle breakage.However,GSD has not been properly considered in modeling the CSL with influence of particle breakage.This study aims to propose a quantitative model to determine the CSL considering the effect of GSD.We hypothesize that the change of critical state void ratio with respect to GSD is caused by the same mechanism that influences of the change of minimum void ratio with respect to GSD.Consequently,the particle packing model for minimum void ratio proposed by Chang et al.(2017)is extended to predict critical state void ratio.The developed model is validated by experimental results of CSLs for several types of granular materials.Then the evolution of GSD due to particle breakage is incorporated into the model.The model is further evaluated using the experimental results on rockfill material,which illustrates the applicability of the model in predicting CSL for granular material with particle breakage.     

Continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows employing multiplicative elastoplasticity

We present a Lagrangian formulation for simulating the continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows based on multiplicative elastoplasticity theory for finite deformation calculations. The formulation is implemented within the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method along with a variant of the usual dynamic boundary condition. Three benchmark simulations on dry sands are presented to validate the model: (a) a set of plane strain collapse tests, (b) a set of 3D collapse tests, and (c) a plane strain simulation of the impact force generated by granular flow on a rigid wall. Comparison with experimental results suggests that the formulation is sufficiently robust and accurate to model the continuum hydrodynamics of dry granular flows in a laboratory setting. Results of the simulations suggest the potential of the formulation for modeling more complex, field-scale scenarios characterized by more elaborate geometry and multi-physical processes. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the multiplicative plasticity approach has been applied to granular flows in the context of the SPH method.     

Rotations of elongate rigid particles in slow non-Newtonian flows

In Jeffery's well-known theoretical model each end of the symmetry axis of an isolated rigid prolate ellipsoid embedded in a Newtonian matrix undergoing simple shear flow describes one of an infinite family of accurately closed periodic orbits. The usefulness of this model in relating particle orientation distributions to bulk finite strain is reassessed in the light of recent theoretical and experimental work. This work shows that Jeffery's analysis is readily extended to include any axisymmetric particle shape (with a centre of symmetry), and that small surface irregularities may be neglected. In nonNewtonian media (both power-law and elasticoviscous) particle motions, although still periodic, show a progressive drift through the family of Jeffery orbits. In a secondorder Rivlin—Ericksen fluid the orbital drift estimated for the strain magnitudes and particle axis ratios likely in most tectonites is slight, and leads to negligibly small departures from the predictions of Jeffery's model. More orbital drift is anticipated in powerlaw fluids although Jeffery's model is still likely to yield an acceptable approximation except for very high strains.     

Use of machine learning for unraveling hidden correlations between particle size distributions and the mechanical behavior of granular materials

Acta Geotechnica - A data-driven framework was used to predict the macroscopic mechanical behavior of dense packings of polydisperse granular materials. The discrete element method, DEM, was used...     

Effects of particle size on crushing and deformation behaviors of rockfill materials

Strength and deformation behaviors of rockfill materials,key factors for determining the stability of dams,pertain strongly to the grain crushing characteristics.In this study,single-particle crushing tests were carried out on rockfill materials with nominal particle diameters of 2.5 mm,5 mm and 10 mm to investigate the particle size effect on the single-particle strength and the relationship between the characteristic stress and probability of non-failure.Test data were found to be described by the Weibull distribution with the Weibull modulus of 3.24.Assemblies with uniform nominal grains were then subjected to one-dimensional compression tests at eight levels of vertical stress with a maximum of 100 MPa.The yield stress in one-dimensional compression tests increased with decreasing the particle size,which could be estimated from the single-particle crushing tests.The void ratio-vertical stress curve could be predicted by an exponential function.The particle size distribution curve increased obviously with applied stresses less than 16 MPa and gradually reached the ultimate fractal grading.The relative breakage index became constant with stress up to 64 MPa and was obtained from the ultimate grading at the fractal dimension(a?2:7).A hyperbolical function was also found useful for describing the relationship between the relative breakage index and input work during one-dimensional compression tests.     

Investigating the physical characteristics of dense granular flows by coupling the weakly compressible moving particle semi-implicit method with the rheological model

Acta Geotechnica - Mesh-free methods have recently been coupled with constitutive rheological models to model dynamics in dry granular flows. However, this approach has not yet been comprehensively...