Coupled CFD-DEM Simulations: A Review of Applications and Modeling Limitations
Publication: IFCEE 2024
ABSTRACT
This paper reviews fluid-particle interactions and implementation in coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element modeling (DEM). Soil particles interact with water flow in various geotechnical engineering applications such as seepage and groundwater flow. Understanding these interactions is critical for the design of effective systems to mitigate potential instabilities and manage surface runoff. Coupled CFD and DEM simulations have been used widely to account for the presence of water in soils. In this study, we review the applications of coupled CFD-DEM in geotechnical engineering. Further, we present a coupled CFD-DEM numerical model, developed using both COMSOL Multiphysics and PFC3D. We first validated our model by comparing the model results to the physical tests on settling velocity of a gravel particle in media with different viscosity. Then, we highlighted some challenges and limitations in adopting coupled CFD-DEM in geotechnical research. The developed CFD-DEM model will be used in future studies to model both the surface and internal erosion of various construction soils.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
IFCEE 2024
Pages: 216 - 226
History
Published online: May 3, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Computational fluid dynamics technique
- Computer models
- Coupling
- Discrete element method
- Engineering fundamentals
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Models (by type)
- Numerical methods
- Simulation models
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil water
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Water and water resources
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