Numerical modeling for the effects of gravel permeability coefficient based on DEM and CFD method
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 5 May 2021
Issue publication date: 3 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to form a numerical simulation method for permeability coefficient that can consider the characteristics of gravel gradation and further explore the effects of indoor test factors and gradation characteristics on the permeability coefficient of gravel.
Design/methodology/approach
The random point method is used to establish the polyhedral gravel particle model, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to construct the gravel permeability test sample with gradation characteristics and the finite element method is used to calculate the permeability coefficient to form a DEM-computational fluid dynamics combined method to simulate the gravel seepage characteristics. Then, verified by the indoor test results. Based on this method, the influence of sample size, treatment method of oversize particles and the content of fine particles on the permeability coefficient of gravel is studied.
Findings
For the gravel containing large particles, the larger size permeameter should be used as far as possible. When the permeameter size is limited, the equal weight substitution method is recommended for the treatment method of oversized particles. Compared with the porosity, the pore connectivity has a higher correlation with the permeability coefficient of the sample.
Research limitations/implications
Insufficient consideration of the movement of gravel particles in the seepage process is also an issue for further study.
Originality/value
The simulation method described in this paper is helpful for qualitative analysis, quantitative expression of pore size and makes up for the defect that the seepage characteristics in pores cannot be observed in laboratory tests.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and the Hydraulic Engineering (Grant No. 2014491011), the Key projects of the natural science basic research program of Shaanxi province (Grant No. 2018JZ5010) and the water science plan project of Shaanxi province (Grant No. 2018SLKJ-5).
The author thanks the editor Prof. R.W. Lewis for his affirmation and dedication to the article. At the same time, the reviewers’ comments have further improved the quality of the article. Authors plan to continue to publish future research results in this journal.
Citation
Zhang, A., Yang, J., Ma, C., Cheng, L. and Hu, L. (2022), "Numerical modeling for the effects of gravel permeability coefficient based on DEM and CFD method", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 332-352. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-01-2021-0025
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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