Numerical modelling of granular column collapse using coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian technique with critical state soil model

Abstract

Purpose

Current modellings of granular collapse are lack of considering the effect of soil density. This paper aims to present a numerical method to analyse the collapse of granular column based on the critical-state soil mechanics.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed method, a simple critical-state based constitutive model is first adopted and implemented into a finite element code using the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian technique for large deformation analysis. Simulations of column collapse with various aspect ratios are then conducted for a given initial soil density. The effect of aspect ratio on the final size of deposit morphology, dynamical collapse profiles and the stable region is discussed comparing to experimental results. Moreover, complementary simulations with various initial soil densities on each aspect ratio are conducted.

Findings

Simulations show that a lower value of initial density leads to a lower final deposit height and a longer run-out distance. The simulated evolutions of kinetic energy and collapsing profile with time by the proposed numerical approach also show clearly a soil density-dependent collapse process.

Practical implications

To the end, this study can improve the understanding of column collapse in different aspect ratios and soil densities, and provide a computational tool for the analysis of real scale granular flow.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is proposed in a numerical approach to model granular column collapse considering the influences of aspect ratio and initial void ratio. The proposed approach is based on the finite element platform with coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian technique for large deformation analysis and implementing the critical-state based model accounting for the effect of soil density.

Citation

Wu, Z.-X., Ji, H., Han, J. and Yu, C. (2019), "Numerical modelling of granular column collapse using coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian technique with critical state soil model", Engineering Computations, Vol. 36 No. 7, pp. 2480-2504. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-08-2018-0358