Resolved CFD-DEM Modeling of Suffusion in Gap-Graded Shaped Granular Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
The effect of particle shape on the suffusion of gap-graded soils is an essential although poorly understood subject in geotechnical engineering that requires further investigation. This work presents a macroscale and microscale numerical investigation into the effect of particle shape on the suffusion of gap-graded granular materials. Rounded, elliptical, and convex particles with the same volume-equivalent diameter and varying shape coefficients were generated and used to produce samples. Next, a series of resolved coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete-element method (DEM) simulations were performed to provide evidence of the effect of particle shape on the suffusion susceptibility of gap-graded soils. The evolution of particle orientation, moment, and drag force coefficient were analyzed to determine the mechanisms by which particle shape exerts influence. The fine angular particles under seepage flow were found to adjust their orientation, reducing the projected area of the particle perpendicular to the fluid flow direction. Fine particles in high-flow-velocity regions had a smaller projected area and drag force coefficient. The continuous rotation of the irregularly shaped particles during suffusion implies that their migration should counteract the moments exerted by the surrounding particles. In the sample containing various irregularly shaped particles, the initial position of the most irregularly shaped particle was closer to the outlet, implying that irregularly shaped particles are less susceptible to suffusion.
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Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from the Finance Science and Technology Project of Hainan Province (ZDKJ202019), the GRF project from Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong (15209119), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52208374).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 29, 2023
Accepted: Oct 26, 2023
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jun 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Clays
- Computational fluid dynamics technique
- Discrete element method
- Drag (fluid dynamics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid flow
- Fluid mechanics
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Granular materials
- Granular soils
- Hydrologic engineering
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Numerical analysis
- Numerical methods
- Particles
- Soil mechanics
- Soils (by type)
- Water and water resources
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