In polar regions, floating ice exhibits distinct characteristics across a range of spatial scales. It is well recognized that the irregular geometry of these ice formations markedly influences their dynamic behavior. ...In polar regions, floating ice exhibits distinct characteristics across a range of spatial scales. It is well recognized that the irregular geometry of these ice formations markedly influences their dynamic behavior. This study introduces a polyhedral Discrete Element Method (DEM) tailored for polar ice, incorporating the Gilbert-Johnson-Keerthi (GJK) and Expanding Polytope Algorithm (EPA) for contact detection. This approach facilitates the simulation of the drift and collision processes of floating ice, effectively capturing its freezing and fragmentation. Subsequently, the stability and reli ability of this model are validated by uniaxial compression on level ice fields, focusing specifically on the influence of compression strength on deformation resistance. Additionally, clusters of ice floes nav igating through narrow channels are simulated. These studies have qualitatively assessed the effects of Floe Size Distribution (FSD), initial concentration, and circularity on their flow dynamics. The higher power-law exponent values in the FSD, increased circularity, and decreased concentration are each as sociated with accelerated flow in ice floe fields. The simulation results distinctly demonstrate the con siderable impact of sea ice geometry on the movement of clusters, offering valuable insights into the complexities of polar ice dynamics.展开更多
This study investigated the correlations between mechanical properties and mineralogy of granite using the digital image processing(DIP) and discrete element method(DEM). The results showed that the X-ray diffraction(...This study investigated the correlations between mechanical properties and mineralogy of granite using the digital image processing(DIP) and discrete element method(DEM). The results showed that the X-ray diffraction(XRD)-based DIP method effectively analyzed the mineral composition contents and spatial distributions of granite. During the particle flow code(PFC2D) model calibration phase, the numerical simulation exhibited that the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS) value, elastic modulus(E), and failure pattern of the granite specimen in the UCS test were comparable to the experiment. By establishing 351 sets of numerical models and exploring the impacts of mineral composition on the mechanical properties of granite, it indicated that there was no negative correlation between quartz and feldspar for UCS, tensile strength(σ_(t)), and E. In contrast, mica had a significant negative correlation for UCS, σ_(t), and E. The presence of quartz increased the brittleness of granite, whereas the presence of mica and feldspar increased its ductility in UCS and direct tensile strength(DTS) tests. Varying contents of major mineral compositions in granite showed minor influence on the number of cracks in both UCS and DTS tests.展开更多
The glutenite reservoir is strongly heterogeneous due to the random distribution of gravels,making it challenging to perform hydraulic fracturing effectively.To solve this issue,it is essential to study inter-action b...The glutenite reservoir is strongly heterogeneous due to the random distribution of gravels,making it challenging to perform hydraulic fracturing effectively.To solve this issue,it is essential to study inter-action behavior between hydraulic fractures(HFs)and gravels.A coupled hydro-mechanical model is proposed for HF propagation in glutenite using a grain-based discrete element method.This paper first investigates the dynamic evolution of HFs in glutenite,then analyzes the influences of various factors such as horizontal stress difference(D_(s)),minimum horizontal stress(s_(h)),gravel content(V_(g)),gravel size(d_(g)),and stiffness ratio of gravel to matrix(R_(s))on HF propagation geometries.Results show that pene-trating the gravel is the primary HF-gravel interaction behavior,which follows sequential and staggered initiation modes.Bypassing the gravel is the secondary behavior,which obeys the sequential initiation mode and occurs when the orientation of the gravel boundary is inclined to the maximum horizontal stress(s_(H)).An offset along the gravel boundary is usually formed while penetrating gravels,and the offsets may cause fracture widths to decrease by 37.8%-84.4%.Even if stress dominates the direction of HF propagation,HFs still tend to deflect within gravels.The deviation angle from sH decreases with rising D_(s) and increases with the increase of d_(g) and R_(s).Additionally,intra-gravel shear HFs(IGS-HFs)are prone to be generated in coarse-grained glutenite under high D_(s),while more gravel-bypassing shear HFs(GBS-HFs)tend to be created in argillaceous glutenite with high R_(s) than in sandy glutenite with low R_(s).The findings above prompt the emergence of a novel HF propagation pattern in glutenite,which helps to understand the real HF geometries and to provide theoretical guidance for treatments in the field.展开更多
Mine overburden dumps have posed significant safety issues in the operations of various unit operations of open pit min-ing especially the external dumps. The external dumps are composed of a mixture of fragmented roc...Mine overburden dumps have posed significant safety issues in the operations of various unit operations of open pit min-ing especially the external dumps. The external dumps are composed of a mixture of fragmented rocks and loose soil. Their charac-teristic is comparable to heavily discontinuous solid mass. The conventional approach of limit equilibrium methods provide safety factors for the slope but nothing about the stress-strain characteristics of the large dump mass. The designs of dump location and their respective geometry are integrated for the know-how of the stability characteristics of these dumps. The discrete element method uses a circular disk to represent the granular solid mass and their interactions are described by the Newton’s third law of motion. The displacement is described by the sliding of the circular disk. This work is focused on the modeling efficiency of the discrete element methods to represent the behaviour of mine dump masses with the specified joint plane for the limit equilibrium method. The advantage of the work lies on the ease of information retrieval at any point at the dump mass concerning the stress and strain histories, displacement, failures etc. which when integrated produces a better understanding of the stability of the dump masses.展开更多
A series of accidents caused by crowds within the last decades evoked a lot of scientific interest in modeling the movement of pedestrian crowds. Based on the discrete element method, a granular dynamic model, in whic...A series of accidents caused by crowds within the last decades evoked a lot of scientific interest in modeling the movement of pedestrian crowds. Based on the discrete element method, a granular dynamic model, in which the human body is simplified as a self-driven sphere, is proposed to simulate the characteristics of crowd flow through an exit. In this model, the repulsive force among people is considered to have an anisotropic feature, and the physical contact force due to body deformation is quantified by the Hertz contact model. The movement of the human body is simulated by applying the second Newton＇s law. The crowd flow through an exit at different desired velocities is studied and simulation results indicated that crowd flow exhibits three distinct states, i.e., smooth state, transition state and phase separation state. In the simulation, the clogging phenomenon occurs more easily when the desired velocity is high and the exit may as a result be totally blocked at a desired velocity of 1.6 m/s or above, leading to faster-to-frozen effect.展开更多
To simulate ballast performance accurately and efficiently,the input in discrete element models should be carefully selected,including the contact model and applied particle shape.To study the effects of the contact m...To simulate ballast performance accurately and efficiently,the input in discrete element models should be carefully selected,including the contact model and applied particle shape.To study the effects of the contact model and applied particle shape on the ballast performance(shear strength and deformation),the direct shear test(DST)model and the large-scale process simulation test(LPST)model were developed on the basis of two types of contact models,namely the rolling resistance linear(RRL)model and the linear contact(LC)model.Particle shapes are differentiated by clumps.A clump is a sphere assembly for one ballast particle.The results show that compared with the typical LC model,the RRL method is more efficient and realistic to predict shear strength results of ballast assemblies in DSTs.In addition,the RRL contact model can also provide accurate vertical and lateral ballast deformation under the cyclic loading in LPSTs.展开更多
On the basis of the three-dimensional(3D)random aggregate&mortar two-phase mesoscale finite element model,C++programming was used to identify the node position information of the interface between the aggregate an...On the basis of the three-dimensional(3D)random aggregate&mortar two-phase mesoscale finite element model,C++programming was used to identify the node position information of the interface between the aggregate and mortar elements.The nodes were discretized at this position and the zero-thickness cohesive elements were inserted.After that,the crack energy release rate fracture criterion based on the fracture mechanics theory was assigned to the failure criterion of the interface transition zone(ITZ)elements.Finally,the three-phase mesomechanical model based on the combined finite discrete element method(FDEM)was constructed.Based on this model,the meso-crack extension and macro-mechanical behaviour of coral aggregate concrete(CAC)under uniaxial compression were successfully simulated.The results demonstrated that the meso-mechanical model based on FDEM has excellent applicability to simulate the compressive properties of CAC.展开更多
The compaction quality of subgrade filler strongly affects subgrade settlement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on th...The compaction quality of subgrade filler strongly affects subgrade settlement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the real shape of coarse particles.First,an improved Viola-Jones algorithm is employed to establish a digitalized 2D particle database for coarse particle shape evaluation and discrete modeling purposes of subgrade filler.Shape indexes of 2D subgrade filler are then computed and statistically analyzed.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effects of the aspect ratio(AR)and interparticle friction coefficient(μ)on the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the discrete element method(DEM).The results show that with the increasing AR,the coarse particles are narrower,leading to the increasing movement of fine particles during compaction,which indicates that it is difficult for slender coarse particles to inhibit the migration of fine particles.Moreover,the average displacement of particles is strongly influenced by the AR,indicating that their occlusion under power relies on particle shapes.The dis-placement and velocity of fine particles are much greater than those of the coarse particles,which shows that compaction is primarily a migration of fine particles.Under the cyclic load,the interparticle friction coefficientμhas little effect on the internal structure of the sample;under the quasi-static loads,however,the increase inμwill lead to a significant increase in the porosity of the sample.This study could not only provide a novel approach to investigate the compaction mechanism but also establish a new theoretical basis for the evaluation of intelligent subgrade compaction.展开更多
The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scann...The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques,and the 3D dynamic model of the rail-sleeper-ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method-multiflexible-body dynamics(DEM-MFBD)approach.We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests.It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles,and subsequently the number of contacts between them.As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases,the contact area becomes larger,and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases.Under the action of the elastic USPs,the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced.The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom,and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.展开更多
Internal polyhedral structures of a granular system can be investigated using the Voronoi tessellations.This technique has gained increasing recognition in research of kinetic properties of granular flows.For systems ...Internal polyhedral structures of a granular system can be investigated using the Voronoi tessellations.This technique has gained increasing recognition in research of kinetic properties of granular flows.For systems with mono-sized spherical particles,Voronoi tessellations can be utilized,while radial Voronoi tessellations are necessary for analyzing systems with multi-sized spherical particles.However,research about polyhedral structures of non-spherical particle systems is limited.We utilize the discrete element method to simulate a system of ellipsoidal particles,defined by the equation(x/a)^(2)+(y/1)^(2)+(z/1/a)^(2)=1,where a ranges from 1.1 to 2.0.The system is then dissected by using tangent planes at the contact points,and the geometric quantities of the resulting polyhedra in different shaped systems,such as surface area,volume,number of vertices,number of edges,and number of faces,are calculated.Meanwhile,the longitudinal and transverse wave velocities within the system are calculated with the time-of-flight method.The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the sound velocity of the system and the geometry of the dissected polyhedra.The sound velocity of the system increases with the increase in a,peaking at a=1.3,and then decreases as a continues to increase.The average volume,surface area,number of vertices,number of edges,and number of faces of the polyhedra decrease with the increase in sound velocity.That is,these quantities initially decrease with the increase in a,reaching minima at a=1.3,and then increase with further increase of a.The relationship between sound velocity and the geometric quantities of the dissected polyhedra can serve as a reference for acoustic material design.展开更多
Laying the under-sleeper pad(USP)is one of the effective measures commonly used to delay ballast degradation and reduce maintenance workload.To explore the impact of application of the USP on the dynamic and static me...Laying the under-sleeper pad(USP)is one of the effective measures commonly used to delay ballast degradation and reduce maintenance workload.To explore the impact of application of the USP on the dynamic and static mechanical behavior of the ballast track in the heavy-haul railway system,numerical simulation models of the ballast bed with USP and without USP are presented in this paper by using the discrete element method(DEM)-multi-flexible body dynamic(MFBD)coupling analysis method.The ballast bed support stiffness test and dynamic displacement tests were carried out on the actual operation of a heavy-haul railway line to verify the validity of the models.The results show that using the USP results in a 43.01%reduction in the ballast bed support stiffness and achieves a more uniform distribution of track loads on the sleepers.It effectively reduces the load borne by the sleeper directly under the wheel load,with a 7.89%reduction in the pressure on the sleeper.Furthermore,the laying of the USP changes the lateral resistance sharing ratio of the ballast bed,significantly reducing the stress level of the ballast bed under train loads,with an average stress reduction of 42.19 kPa.It also reduces the plastic displacement of ballast particles and lowers the peak value of rotational angular velocity by about 50%to 70%,which is conducive to slowing down ballast bed settlement deformation and reducing maintenance costs.In summary,laying the USP has a potential value in enhancing the stability and extending the lifespan of the ballast bed in heavy-haul railway systems.展开更多
During the operation of sandy railways, the challenge posed by wind-blown sand is a persistent issue. An in-depth study on the influence of wind-blown sand content on the macroscopic and microscopic mechanical propert...During the operation of sandy railways, the challenge posed by wind-blown sand is a persistent issue. An in-depth study on the influence of wind-blown sand content on the macroscopic and microscopic mechanical properties of the ballast bed is of great significance for understanding the potential problems of sandy railways and proposing reasonable and adequate maintenance and repair strategies. Building upon existing research, this study proposes a new assessment indicator for sand content. Utilizing the discrete element method(DEM) and fully considering the complex interactions between ballast and sand particles, three-dimensional(3D) multi-scale analysis models of sandy ballast beds with different wind-blown sand contents are established and validated through field experiments. The effects of varying wind-blown sand content on the microscopic contact distribution and macroscopic mechanical behavior(such as resistance and support stiffness) of ballast beds are carefully analyzed. The results show that with the increase in sand content, the average contact force and coordination number between ballast particles gradually decrease, and the disparity in contact forces between different layers of the ballast bed diminishes. The longitudinal and lateral resistance of the ballast bed initially decreases and then increases, with a critical point at 10% sand content. At 15% sand content, the lateral resistance is mainly shared by the ballast shoulder. The longitudinal resistance sharing ratio is always the largest on the sleeper side, followed by that at the sleeper bottom, and the smallest on the ballast shoulder. When the sand content exceeds 10%, the contribution of sand particles to stiffness significantly increases, leading to an accelerated growth rate of the overall support stiffness of the ballast bed, which is highly detrimental to the long-term service performance of the ballast bed. In conclusion, it is recommended that maintenance and repair operations should be promptly conducted when the sand content of the ballast bed reaches or exceeds 10%.展开更多
The efficiency of particle screening was studied over a range of vibrational parameters including amplitude, frequency and vibrational direction. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) was used to simulate the screening pr...The efficiency of particle screening was studied over a range of vibrational parameters including amplitude, frequency and vibrational direction. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) was used to simulate the screening process. A functional relationship between efficiency and the parameters, both singly and combined, is established. The function is a complicated exponential. Optimal amplitude and frequency values are smaller for particles near the mesh and larger for other particles. The optimum vibration angle is 45° for nearly all kinds of particles. A transverse velocity, V⊥, was defined and V⊥=0.2 m/s was identified to be the most efficient operating point by both simulation and experimental observation. Comparison of these results with those reported by others is included.展开更多
Gravity is the most important load source in mining and geotechnical engineering,which causes both the stress level and stress gradient inside geomaterials.Different from the stress level,the influence of gravity-indu...Gravity is the most important load source in mining and geotechnical engineering,which causes both the stress level and stress gradient inside geomaterials.Different from the stress level,the influence of gravity-induced stress gradient on the behaviour of the material is still unknown.An in-deep study on it will help to promote the understanding of material behaviour,especially for those cases related to unconventional gravity such as terrestrial ng physical modelling and extraterrestrial resource exploitation(g is the terrestrial gravitational acceleration).In this study,a high-order homogenization for granular materials is proposed at first,in which the stress gradient is drawn into the constitutive representation by adopting a representative volume element(RVE).The consolidation and shear strength behaviour of RVE are then investigated by performing numerical biaxial tests.The results show that all the compressibility,shear strength,shear stiffness,volumetric deformation,and critical state behaviour show a stress gradient dependence.A coupling between stress gradient,stress level,and material properties is also observed.These observations suggest that,besides the stress level,extra attention needs to be paid to material responses related to stress gradient during engineering practices.展开更多
The discrete element method(DEM) has been widely used to simulate microscopic interactions between particles.Screening is a deeply complicated process when considering the law of motion for the particles,themselves.In...The discrete element method(DEM) has been widely used to simulate microscopic interactions between particles.Screening is a deeply complicated process when considering the law of motion for the particles,themselves.In this paper,a numerical model for the study of a particle screening process using the DEM is presented.Special attention was paid to the modeling of a vibrating screen that allows particles to pass through,or to rebound,when approaching the screen surface.Inferences concerning screen length and vibrating frequency as they relate to screening efficiency were studied.The conclusions were:three-dimensional simulation of screening efficiency along the screen length follows an exponential distribution;when the sieve vibrates over a certain frequency range the screening efficiency is stable;and,higher vibration frequencies can improve the handling capacity of the screening machine.展开更多
Accurate acid placement constitutes a major concern in matrix stimulation because the acid tends to penetrate the zones of least resistance while leaving the low-permeability regions of the formation untreated.Degrada...Accurate acid placement constitutes a major concern in matrix stimulation because the acid tends to penetrate the zones of least resistance while leaving the low-permeability regions of the formation untreated.Degradable materials(fibers and solid particles)have recently shown a good capability as fluid diversion to overcome the issues related to matrix stimulation.Despite the success achieved in the recent acid stimulation jobs stemming from the use of some products that rely on fiber flocculation as the main diverting mechanism,it was observed that the volume of the base fluid and the loading of the particles are not optimized.The current industry lacks a scientific design guideline because the used methodology is based on experience or empirical studies in a particular area with a particular product.It is important then to understand the fundamentals of how acid diversion works in carbonates with different diverting mechanisms and diverters.Mathematical modeling and computer simulations are effective tools to develop this understanding and are efficiently applied to new product development,new applications of existing products or usage optimization.In this work,we develop a numerical model to study fiber dynamics in fluid flow.We employ a discrete element method in which the fibers are represented by multi-rigid-body systems of interconnected spheres.The discrete fiber model is coupled with a fluid flow solver to account for the inherent simultaneous interactions.The focus of the study is on the tendency for fibers to flocculate and bridge when interacting with suspending fluids and encountering restrictions that can be representative of fractures or wormholes in carbonates.The trends of the dynamic fiber behavior under various operating conditions including fiber loading,flow rate and fluid viscosity obtained from the numerical model show consistency with experimental observations.The present numerical investigation reveals that the bridging capability of the fiber–fluid system can be enhanced by increasing the fiber loading,selecting fibers with higher stiffness,reducing the injection flow rate,reducing the suspending fluid viscosity or increasing the attractive cohesive forces among fibers by using sticky fibers.展开更多
The differential evolution(DE)algorithm was deployed to calibrate microparameters of the DEM cohesive granular material.4 macroparameters,namely,uniaxial compressive strength,direct tensile strength,Young’s modulus a...The differential evolution(DE)algorithm was deployed to calibrate microparameters of the DEM cohesive granular material.4 macroparameters,namely,uniaxial compressive strength,direct tensile strength,Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio,can be calibrated to high accuracy.The best calibration accuracy could reach the sum of relative errors RE_(sum)<0.1%.Most calibrations can be achieved with RE_(sum)<5%within hours or RE_(sum)<1%within 2 days.Based on the calibrated results,microparameters uniqueness analysis was carried out to reveal the correlation between microparameters and the macroscopic mechanical behaviour of material:(1)microparameters effective modulus,tensile strength and normal-to-shear stiffness ratio control the elastic behaviour and stable crack growth,(2)microparameters cohesion and friction angles present a negative linear correlation that controls the axial strain and lateral strain prior to the peak stress,and(3)microparameters friction coefficient controls shear crack friction and slip mainly refers to the unstable crack behaviour.Consideration of more macroparameters to regulate the material mechanical behaviour that is dominated by shear crack and slip motion is highlighted for future study.The DE calibration method is expected to serve as an alternative method to calibrate the DEM cohesive granular material to its peak strength.展开更多
Research on recycling waste Printed Circuit Boards(PCB) is at the forefront of preventing environmental pollution and finding ways to recycle resources.The Tapered Column Separation Bed(TCSB) is invented aiming at dis...Research on recycling waste Printed Circuit Boards(PCB) is at the forefront of preventing environmental pollution and finding ways to recycle resources.The Tapered Column Separation Bed(TCSB) is invented aiming at disposing the problem that fine particles of waste printed circuit boards cannot be separated efficiently so as to obtain further insight about the underlying mechanisms and demonstrate the separation feasibility in the tapered column separation bed.In this work,a Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) coupled with Discrete Element Method(DEM) model for two-phase flow has been extended to simulate the fluid-solid flow in the tapered column separation bed.Its validity is demonstrated by its successful capturing the key features of particles' flow pattern,velocity,the pressure distribution,the axial position with time and axial force for particles with different densities.Simulation results show that the plastic particles and resin particles become overflow,while copper particles,iron particles and aluminum particles successively become underflow,with a discharge water flow rate of 1 m^3/h,an obliquity of 30°.The simulated results agree reasonably well with the experimental observation.Using this equipment to separate waste PCBs is feasible,theoretically.展开更多
Cyclic load is widely adopted in laboratory to simulate the effect of train load on ballast bed.The effectiveness of such load equivalence is usually testified by having similar results of key concerns of ballast bed,...Cyclic load is widely adopted in laboratory to simulate the effect of train load on ballast bed.The effectiveness of such load equivalence is usually testified by having similar results of key concerns of ballast bed,such as deformation or stiffness,while the consistency of particle scale characteristics under two loading patterns is rarely examined,which is insufficient to well-understand and use the load simplification.In this study,a previous laboratory model test of ballast bed under cyclic load is rebuilt using 3D discrete element method(DEM),which is validated by dynamic responses monitored by high-resolution sensors.Then,train load having the same magnitude and amplitude as the cyclic load is applied in the numerical model to obtain the statistical characteristics of inter-particle contact force and particle movements in ballast bed.The results show that particle scale responses under two loading patterns could have quite deviation,even when macro-scale responses of ballast bed under two loading patterns are very close.This inconsistency indicates that the application scale of the DEM model should not exceed the validation scale.Moreover,it is important to examine multiscale responses to validate the effectiveness of load simplification.展开更多
A mathematical study of particle flow on a banana screen deck using the discrete element method (DEM) was presented in this paper. The motion characteristics and penetrating mechanisms of particles on the screen deck ...A mathematical study of particle flow on a banana screen deck using the discrete element method (DEM) was presented in this paper. The motion characteristics and penetrating mechanisms of particles on the screen deck were studied. Effects of geometric parameters of screen deck on banana screening process were also investigated. The results show that when the values of inclination of discharge and increment of screen deck inclination are 10° and 5° respectively, the banana screening process get a good screening performance in the simulation. The relationship between screen deck length and screening efficiency was further confirmed. The conclusion that the screening efficiency will not significantly increase when the deck length L≥430 mm (L/B ≥ 3.5) was obtained, which can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of banana screen.展开更多
文摘In polar regions, floating ice exhibits distinct characteristics across a range of spatial scales. It is well recognized that the irregular geometry of these ice formations markedly influences their dynamic behavior. This study introduces a polyhedral Discrete Element Method (DEM) tailored for polar ice, incorporating the Gilbert-Johnson-Keerthi (GJK) and Expanding Polytope Algorithm (EPA) for contact detection. This approach facilitates the simulation of the drift and collision processes of floating ice, effectively capturing its freezing and fragmentation. Subsequently, the stability and reli ability of this model are validated by uniaxial compression on level ice fields, focusing specifically on the influence of compression strength on deformation resistance. Additionally, clusters of ice floes nav igating through narrow channels are simulated. These studies have qualitatively assessed the effects of Floe Size Distribution (FSD), initial concentration, and circularity on their flow dynamics. The higher power-law exponent values in the FSD, increased circularity, and decreased concentration are each as sociated with accelerated flow in ice floe fields. The simulation results distinctly demonstrate the con siderable impact of sea ice geometry on the movement of clusters, offering valuable insights into the complexities of polar ice dynamics.
基金This research was supported by the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Utah.In addition,the lead author wishes to acknowledge the financial support received from the Talent Introduction Project,part of the Elite Program of Shandong University of Science and Technology(No.0104060540171).
文摘This study investigated the correlations between mechanical properties and mineralogy of granite using the digital image processing(DIP) and discrete element method(DEM). The results showed that the X-ray diffraction(XRD)-based DIP method effectively analyzed the mineral composition contents and spatial distributions of granite. During the particle flow code(PFC2D) model calibration phase, the numerical simulation exhibited that the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS) value, elastic modulus(E), and failure pattern of the granite specimen in the UCS test were comparable to the experiment. By establishing 351 sets of numerical models and exploring the impacts of mineral composition on the mechanical properties of granite, it indicated that there was no negative correlation between quartz and feldspar for UCS, tensile strength(σ_(t)), and E. In contrast, mica had a significant negative correlation for UCS, σ_(t), and E. The presence of quartz increased the brittleness of granite, whereas the presence of mica and feldspar increased its ductility in UCS and direct tensile strength(DTS) tests. Varying contents of major mineral compositions in granite showed minor influence on the number of cracks in both UCS and DTS tests.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52304003)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(Grant No.2024NSFSC0961)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(Grant No.GZB20230090).
文摘The glutenite reservoir is strongly heterogeneous due to the random distribution of gravels,making it challenging to perform hydraulic fracturing effectively.To solve this issue,it is essential to study inter-action behavior between hydraulic fractures(HFs)and gravels.A coupled hydro-mechanical model is proposed for HF propagation in glutenite using a grain-based discrete element method.This paper first investigates the dynamic evolution of HFs in glutenite,then analyzes the influences of various factors such as horizontal stress difference(D_(s)),minimum horizontal stress(s_(h)),gravel content(V_(g)),gravel size(d_(g)),and stiffness ratio of gravel to matrix(R_(s))on HF propagation geometries.Results show that pene-trating the gravel is the primary HF-gravel interaction behavior,which follows sequential and staggered initiation modes.Bypassing the gravel is the secondary behavior,which obeys the sequential initiation mode and occurs when the orientation of the gravel boundary is inclined to the maximum horizontal stress(s_(H)).An offset along the gravel boundary is usually formed while penetrating gravels,and the offsets may cause fracture widths to decrease by 37.8%-84.4%.Even if stress dominates the direction of HF propagation,HFs still tend to deflect within gravels.The deviation angle from sH decreases with rising D_(s) and increases with the increase of d_(g) and R_(s).Additionally,intra-gravel shear HFs(IGS-HFs)are prone to be generated in coarse-grained glutenite under high D_(s),while more gravel-bypassing shear HFs(GBS-HFs)tend to be created in argillaceous glutenite with high R_(s) than in sandy glutenite with low R_(s).The findings above prompt the emergence of a novel HF propagation pattern in glutenite,which helps to understand the real HF geometries and to provide theoretical guidance for treatments in the field.
文摘Mine overburden dumps have posed significant safety issues in the operations of various unit operations of open pit min-ing especially the external dumps. The external dumps are composed of a mixture of fragmented rocks and loose soil. Their charac-teristic is comparable to heavily discontinuous solid mass. The conventional approach of limit equilibrium methods provide safety factors for the slope but nothing about the stress-strain characteristics of the large dump mass. The designs of dump location and their respective geometry are integrated for the know-how of the stability characteristics of these dumps. The discrete element method uses a circular disk to represent the granular solid mass and their interactions are described by the Newton’s third law of motion. The displacement is described by the sliding of the circular disk. This work is focused on the modeling efficiency of the discrete element methods to represent the behaviour of mine dump masses with the specified joint plane for the limit equilibrium method. The advantage of the work lies on the ease of information retrieval at any point at the dump mass concerning the stress and strain histories, displacement, failures etc. which when integrated produces a better understanding of the stability of the dump masses.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.71473207,51178445,and 71103148)the Research Grant Council,Government of Hong Kong,China(Grant No.City U119011)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Grant Nos.2682014CX103 and 2682014RC05)
文摘A series of accidents caused by crowds within the last decades evoked a lot of scientific interest in modeling the movement of pedestrian crowds. Based on the discrete element method, a granular dynamic model, in which the human body is simplified as a self-driven sphere, is proposed to simulate the characteristics of crowd flow through an exit. In this model, the repulsive force among people is considered to have an anisotropic feature, and the physical contact force due to body deformation is quantified by the Hertz contact model. The movement of the human body is simulated by applying the second Newton＇s law. The crowd flow through an exit at different desired velocities is studied and simulation results indicated that crowd flow exhibits three distinct states, i.e., smooth state, transition state and phase separation state. In the simulation, the clogging phenomenon occurs more easily when the desired velocity is high and the exit may as a result be totally blocked at a desired velocity of 1.6 m/s or above, leading to faster-to-frozen effect.
基金by the China Scholarship Council and the Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51578469)We also would like to acknowledge the support of the Chinese Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(111 Project,Grant No.B16041)。
文摘To simulate ballast performance accurately and efficiently,the input in discrete element models should be carefully selected,including the contact model and applied particle shape.To study the effects of the contact model and applied particle shape on the ballast performance(shear strength and deformation),the direct shear test(DST)model and the large-scale process simulation test(LPST)model were developed on the basis of two types of contact models,namely the rolling resistance linear(RRL)model and the linear contact(LC)model.Particle shapes are differentiated by clumps.A clump is a sphere assembly for one ballast particle.The results show that compared with the typical LC model,the RRL method is more efficient and realistic to predict shear strength results of ballast assemblies in DSTs.In addition,the RRL contact model can also provide accurate vertical and lateral ballast deformation under the cyclic loading in LPSTs.
基金supported by the Key Projects of the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.52178190,52078250,11832013)
文摘On the basis of the three-dimensional(3D)random aggregate&mortar two-phase mesoscale finite element model,C++programming was used to identify the node position information of the interface between the aggregate and mortar elements.The nodes were discretized at this position and the zero-thickness cohesive elements were inserted.After that,the crack energy release rate fracture criterion based on the fracture mechanics theory was assigned to the failure criterion of the interface transition zone(ITZ)elements.Finally,the three-phase mesomechanical model based on the combined finite discrete element method(FDEM)was constructed.Based on this model,the meso-crack extension and macro-mechanical behaviour of coral aggregate concrete(CAC)under uniaxial compression were successfully simulated.The results demonstrated that the meso-mechanical model based on FDEM has excellent applicability to simulate the compressive properties of CAC.
基金This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program‘Transportation Infrastructure’project(No.2022YFB2603400).
文摘The compaction quality of subgrade filler strongly affects subgrade settlement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the real shape of coarse particles.First,an improved Viola-Jones algorithm is employed to establish a digitalized 2D particle database for coarse particle shape evaluation and discrete modeling purposes of subgrade filler.Shape indexes of 2D subgrade filler are then computed and statistically analyzed.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effects of the aspect ratio(AR)and interparticle friction coefficient(μ)on the macro-and micro-mechanical compaction characteristics of subgrade filler based on the discrete element method(DEM).The results show that with the increasing AR,the coarse particles are narrower,leading to the increasing movement of fine particles during compaction,which indicates that it is difficult for slender coarse particles to inhibit the migration of fine particles.Moreover,the average displacement of particles is strongly influenced by the AR,indicating that their occlusion under power relies on particle shapes.The dis-placement and velocity of fine particles are much greater than those of the coarse particles,which shows that compaction is primarily a migration of fine particles.Under the cyclic load,the interparticle friction coefficientμhas little effect on the internal structure of the sample;under the quasi-static loads,however,the increase inμwill lead to a significant increase in the porosity of the sample.This study could not only provide a novel approach to investigate the compaction mechanism but also establish a new theoretical basis for the evaluation of intelligent subgrade compaction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants Nos.52165013 and 51565021.
文摘The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads(USPs)was studied.The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques,and the 3D dynamic model of the rail-sleeper-ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method-multiflexible-body dynamics(DEM-MFBD)approach.We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests.It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles,and subsequently the number of contacts between them.As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases,the contact area becomes larger,and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases.Under the action of the elastic USPs,the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced.The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom,and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12262005,11962003,and 11602062)the Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province(Grant No.YJS2024AL138)the Graduate Education Reform Project of Henan Province(Grant No.2023SJGLX096Y).
文摘Internal polyhedral structures of a granular system can be investigated using the Voronoi tessellations.This technique has gained increasing recognition in research of kinetic properties of granular flows.For systems with mono-sized spherical particles,Voronoi tessellations can be utilized,while radial Voronoi tessellations are necessary for analyzing systems with multi-sized spherical particles.However,research about polyhedral structures of non-spherical particle systems is limited.We utilize the discrete element method to simulate a system of ellipsoidal particles,defined by the equation(x/a)^(2)+(y/1)^(2)+(z/1/a)^(2)=1,where a ranges from 1.1 to 2.0.The system is then dissected by using tangent planes at the contact points,and the geometric quantities of the resulting polyhedra in different shaped systems,such as surface area,volume,number of vertices,number of edges,and number of faces,are calculated.Meanwhile,the longitudinal and transverse wave velocities within the system are calculated with the time-of-flight method.The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the sound velocity of the system and the geometry of the dissected polyhedra.The sound velocity of the system increases with the increase in a,peaking at a=1.3,and then decreases as a continues to increase.The average volume,surface area,number of vertices,number of edges,and number of faces of the polyhedra decrease with the increase in sound velocity.That is,these quantities initially decrease with the increase in a,reaching minima at a=1.3,and then increase with further increase of a.The relationship between sound velocity and the geometric quantities of the dissected polyhedra can serve as a reference for acoustic material design.
基金the project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52372425)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Science and technology leading talent team project)(Grant No.2022JBXT010).
文摘Laying the under-sleeper pad(USP)is one of the effective measures commonly used to delay ballast degradation and reduce maintenance workload.To explore the impact of application of the USP on the dynamic and static mechanical behavior of the ballast track in the heavy-haul railway system,numerical simulation models of the ballast bed with USP and without USP are presented in this paper by using the discrete element method(DEM)-multi-flexible body dynamic(MFBD)coupling analysis method.The ballast bed support stiffness test and dynamic displacement tests were carried out on the actual operation of a heavy-haul railway line to verify the validity of the models.The results show that using the USP results in a 43.01%reduction in the ballast bed support stiffness and achieves a more uniform distribution of track loads on the sleepers.It effectively reduces the load borne by the sleeper directly under the wheel load,with a 7.89%reduction in the pressure on the sleeper.Furthermore,the laying of the USP changes the lateral resistance sharing ratio of the ballast bed,significantly reducing the stress level of the ballast bed under train loads,with an average stress reduction of 42.19 kPa.It also reduces the plastic displacement of ballast particles and lowers the peak value of rotational angular velocity by about 50%to 70%,which is conducive to slowing down ballast bed settlement deformation and reducing maintenance costs.In summary,laying the USP has a potential value in enhancing the stability and extending the lifespan of the ballast bed in heavy-haul railway systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52372425)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Science and Technology Leading Talent Team Poject) Grant No. 2022JBXT010。
文摘During the operation of sandy railways, the challenge posed by wind-blown sand is a persistent issue. An in-depth study on the influence of wind-blown sand content on the macroscopic and microscopic mechanical properties of the ballast bed is of great significance for understanding the potential problems of sandy railways and proposing reasonable and adequate maintenance and repair strategies. Building upon existing research, this study proposes a new assessment indicator for sand content. Utilizing the discrete element method(DEM) and fully considering the complex interactions between ballast and sand particles, three-dimensional(3D) multi-scale analysis models of sandy ballast beds with different wind-blown sand contents are established and validated through field experiments. The effects of varying wind-blown sand content on the microscopic contact distribution and macroscopic mechanical behavior(such as resistance and support stiffness) of ballast beds are carefully analyzed. The results show that with the increase in sand content, the average contact force and coordination number between ballast particles gradually decrease, and the disparity in contact forces between different layers of the ballast bed diminishes. The longitudinal and lateral resistance of the ballast bed initially decreases and then increases, with a critical point at 10% sand content. At 15% sand content, the lateral resistance is mainly shared by the ballast shoulder. The longitudinal resistance sharing ratio is always the largest on the sleeper side, followed by that at the sleeper bottom, and the smallest on the ballast shoulder. When the sand content exceeds 10%, the contribution of sand particles to stiffness significantly increases, leading to an accelerated growth rate of the overall support stiffness of the ballast bed, which is highly detrimental to the long-term service performance of the ballast bed. In conclusion, it is recommended that maintenance and repair operations should be promptly conducted when the sand content of the ballast bed reaches or exceeds 10%.
基金the Special Topic of Key Science and Technology of Fujian Province Fund (No.2006HZ0002-2)
文摘The efficiency of particle screening was studied over a range of vibrational parameters including amplitude, frequency and vibrational direction. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) was used to simulate the screening process. A functional relationship between efficiency and the parameters, both singly and combined, is established. The function is a complicated exponential. Optimal amplitude and frequency values are smaller for particles near the mesh and larger for other particles. The optimum vibration angle is 45° for nearly all kinds of particles. A transverse velocity, V⊥, was defined and V⊥=0.2 m/s was identified to be the most efficient operating point by both simulation and experimental observation. Comparison of these results with those reported by others is included.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41902273,41772338)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2019M661986)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20190637)the Jiangsu Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds(No.2019K194)financial support by the State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering,China University of Mining and Technology(Nos.Z19007,Z19009)。
文摘Gravity is the most important load source in mining and geotechnical engineering,which causes both the stress level and stress gradient inside geomaterials.Different from the stress level,the influence of gravity-induced stress gradient on the behaviour of the material is still unknown.An in-deep study on it will help to promote the understanding of material behaviour,especially for those cases related to unconventional gravity such as terrestrial ng physical modelling and extraterrestrial resource exploitation(g is the terrestrial gravitational acceleration).In this study,a high-order homogenization for granular materials is proposed at first,in which the stress gradient is drawn into the constitutive representation by adopting a representative volume element(RVE).The consolidation and shear strength behaviour of RVE are then investigated by performing numerical biaxial tests.The results show that all the compressibility,shear strength,shear stiffness,volumetric deformation,and critical state behaviour show a stress gradient dependence.A coupling between stress gradient,stress level,and material properties is also observed.These observations suggest that,besides the stress level,extra attention needs to be paid to material responses related to stress gradient during engineering practices.
基金Project 2006HZ0002-2 supported by the Special Topic Fund of Key Science and Technology of Fujian Province
文摘The discrete element method(DEM) has been widely used to simulate microscopic interactions between particles.Screening is a deeply complicated process when considering the law of motion for the particles,themselves.In this paper,a numerical model for the study of a particle screening process using the DEM is presented.Special attention was paid to the modeling of a vibrating screen that allows particles to pass through,or to rebound,when approaching the screen surface.Inferences concerning screen length and vibrating frequency as they relate to screening efficiency were studied.The conclusions were:three-dimensional simulation of screening efficiency along the screen length follows an exponential distribution;when the sieve vibrates over a certain frequency range the screening efficiency is stable;and,higher vibration frequencies can improve the handling capacity of the screening machine.
文摘Accurate acid placement constitutes a major concern in matrix stimulation because the acid tends to penetrate the zones of least resistance while leaving the low-permeability regions of the formation untreated.Degradable materials(fibers and solid particles)have recently shown a good capability as fluid diversion to overcome the issues related to matrix stimulation.Despite the success achieved in the recent acid stimulation jobs stemming from the use of some products that rely on fiber flocculation as the main diverting mechanism,it was observed that the volume of the base fluid and the loading of the particles are not optimized.The current industry lacks a scientific design guideline because the used methodology is based on experience or empirical studies in a particular area with a particular product.It is important then to understand the fundamentals of how acid diversion works in carbonates with different diverting mechanisms and diverters.Mathematical modeling and computer simulations are effective tools to develop this understanding and are efficiently applied to new product development,new applications of existing products or usage optimization.In this work,we develop a numerical model to study fiber dynamics in fluid flow.We employ a discrete element method in which the fibers are represented by multi-rigid-body systems of interconnected spheres.The discrete fiber model is coupled with a fluid flow solver to account for the inherent simultaneous interactions.The focus of the study is on the tendency for fibers to flocculate and bridge when interacting with suspending fluids and encountering restrictions that can be representative of fractures or wormholes in carbonates.The trends of the dynamic fiber behavior under various operating conditions including fiber loading,flow rate and fluid viscosity obtained from the numerical model show consistency with experimental observations.The present numerical investigation reveals that the bridging capability of the fiber–fluid system can be enhanced by increasing the fiber loading,selecting fibers with higher stiffness,reducing the injection flow rate,reducing the suspending fluid viscosity or increasing the attractive cohesive forces among fibers by using sticky fibers.
文摘The differential evolution(DE)algorithm was deployed to calibrate microparameters of the DEM cohesive granular material.4 macroparameters,namely,uniaxial compressive strength,direct tensile strength,Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio,can be calibrated to high accuracy.The best calibration accuracy could reach the sum of relative errors RE_(sum)<0.1%.Most calibrations can be achieved with RE_(sum)<5%within hours or RE_(sum)<1%within 2 days.Based on the calibrated results,microparameters uniqueness analysis was carried out to reveal the correlation between microparameters and the macroscopic mechanical behaviour of material:(1)microparameters effective modulus,tensile strength and normal-to-shear stiffness ratio control the elastic behaviour and stable crack growth,(2)microparameters cohesion and friction angles present a negative linear correlation that controls the axial strain and lateral strain prior to the peak stress,and(3)microparameters friction coefficient controls shear crack friction and slip mainly refers to the unstable crack behaviour.Consideration of more macroparameters to regulate the material mechanical behaviour that is dominated by shear crack and slip motion is highlighted for future study.The DE calibration method is expected to serve as an alternative method to calibrate the DEM cohesive granular material to its peak strength.
基金the National Key Basic Research Program of China(No.2012CB214904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Innovative Research Group(No.51221462)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51304196,51134022,and 51174203)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(No. BK2012136)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education(No.20120095130001)
文摘Research on recycling waste Printed Circuit Boards(PCB) is at the forefront of preventing environmental pollution and finding ways to recycle resources.The Tapered Column Separation Bed(TCSB) is invented aiming at disposing the problem that fine particles of waste printed circuit boards cannot be separated efficiently so as to obtain further insight about the underlying mechanisms and demonstrate the separation feasibility in the tapered column separation bed.In this work,a Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) coupled with Discrete Element Method(DEM) model for two-phase flow has been extended to simulate the fluid-solid flow in the tapered column separation bed.Its validity is demonstrated by its successful capturing the key features of particles' flow pattern,velocity,the pressure distribution,the axial position with time and axial force for particles with different densities.Simulation results show that the plastic particles and resin particles become overflow,while copper particles,iron particles and aluminum particles successively become underflow,with a discharge water flow rate of 1 m^3/h,an obliquity of 30°.The simulated results agree reasonably well with the experimental observation.Using this equipment to separate waste PCBs is feasible,theoretically.
基金This work was supported by the NSFS(Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai)Program under grant number 21ZR1465400.
文摘Cyclic load is widely adopted in laboratory to simulate the effect of train load on ballast bed.The effectiveness of such load equivalence is usually testified by having similar results of key concerns of ballast bed,such as deformation or stiffness,while the consistency of particle scale characteristics under two loading patterns is rarely examined,which is insufficient to well-understand and use the load simplification.In this study,a previous laboratory model test of ballast bed under cyclic load is rebuilt using 3D discrete element method(DEM),which is validated by dynamic responses monitored by high-resolution sensors.Then,train load having the same magnitude and amplitude as the cyclic load is applied in the numerical model to obtain the statistical characteristics of inter-particle contact force and particle movements in ballast bed.The results show that particle scale responses under two loading patterns could have quite deviation,even when macro-scale responses of ballast bed under two loading patterns are very close.This inconsistency indicates that the application scale of the DEM model should not exceed the validation scale.Moreover,it is important to examine multiscale responses to validate the effectiveness of load simplification.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51204181)the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20110095120004)+2 种基金the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutionsthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. 2011QNA10 and 2010QNB17)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 20110491485)
文摘A mathematical study of particle flow on a banana screen deck using the discrete element method (DEM) was presented in this paper. The motion characteristics and penetrating mechanisms of particles on the screen deck were studied. Effects of geometric parameters of screen deck on banana screening process were also investigated. The results show that when the values of inclination of discharge and increment of screen deck inclination are 10° and 5° respectively, the banana screening process get a good screening performance in the simulation. The relationship between screen deck length and screening efficiency was further confirmed. The conclusion that the screening efficiency will not significantly increase when the deck length L≥430 mm (L/B ≥ 3.5) was obtained, which can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of banana screen.
