Coupled DEM-CFD Investigation of Granular Transport in a Fluid Channel. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, T; Dai, F; Xu, N W
• Is Part Of: IOP conference series. Volume 26(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: granular transport -- fluid channel -- DEM-CFD -- segregation; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Congresses; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/26/1/012016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-1307

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents three dimensional numerical investigations of granular transport in fluids, analysed by the Discrete Element Method (DEM) coupled with Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD). By employing this model, the relevance of flow velocity and granular depositional morphology has been clarified. The larger the flow velocity is, the further distance the grains can be transported to. In this process, the segregation of solid grains has been clearly identified. This research reveals that coarse grains normally accumulate near the grain source region, while the fine grains can be transported to the flow front. Regardless of the different flow velocities used in these simulations, the intensity of grains segregation remains almost unchanged. The results obtained from the DEM-CFD coupled simulations can reasonably explain the grain transport process occurred in natural environments, such as river scouring, evolution of river/ocean floor, deserts and submarine landslides.