Discrete element-embedded finite element model for simulation of soft particle motion and deformation

The motion and deformation of soft particles are commonly encountered and important in many applications. A discrete element-embedded finite element model (DEFEM) is proposed to solve soft particle motion and deformation, which combines discrete element and finite element methods. The collisional surface of soft particles is covered by several dynamical embedded discrete elements (EDEs) to model the collisional external forces of the particles. The particle deformation, motion, and rotation are independent of each other in the DEFEM. The deformation and internal forces are simulated using the finite element model, whereas the particle rotation and motion calculations are based on the discrete element model. By inheriting the advantages of existing coupling methods, the contact force and contact search between soft particles are improved with the aid of the EDE. Soft particle packing is simulated using the DEFEM for two cases: particle accumulation along a rectangular straight wall and a wall with an inclined angle. The large particle deformation in the lower layers can be simulated using current methods, where the deformed particle shape is either irregular in the marginal region or nearly hexagonal in the tightly packed central region. This method can also be used to simulate the deformation, motion, and heat transfer of non-spherical soft particles.     

Impulsive motion of a suspension: Effect of antisymmetric stresses and particle rotation

A two-phase continuum theory (two-fluid model) for a suspension of rigid spherical particles in a Newtonian fluid is applied to investigate theoretically the flow induced by impulsive motion of an infinite flat plate. Consideration of rotational intertia of the particles gives rise to an antisymmetric part of the volume averaged stress tensor of the continuous phase. The influence of particle rotation and of antisymmetric stresses of the continuous phase, which depend on the relative rotational motion between the particles and the ambient fluid, on the motion of each phase and on the skin friction is examined.Approximate solutions to the equations, corresponding to the physical situation of large and small particle slip, are obtained by power series expansions for small and large times.     

Grid-averaged Lagrangian LES model for multiphase turbulent flow

A grid-averaged Lagrangian (GAL) model for dispersed particle motion in multiphase turbulent flow is presented to provide a large eddy simulation (LES) model for multiphase turbulent flow in which a quite large number of particles are involved. The GAL model is based on an averaging operation for a Lagrangian-type equation of motion of a particle over a computational grid volume and a procedure of reallocation of a dispersed particle cloud with its centroid movement to each grid. The model is therefore a mixed Eulerian–Lagrangian model which can effectively reduce computational time compared with existing Lagrangian-type models, without losing the advantage of Lagrangian-type models that they can properly describe the dynamical evolution of particles. Since the GAL model adopts the grid-volume averaging operation it can easily provide an effective SGS model for LES modeling of multiphase turbulent flow. The validity of the multiphase LES model developed, which is named the GAL-LES model, is confirmed through its application to a particle plume, in which the present model is found to simulate large-eddy motion usually observed in a jet and plume, and to give good agreements with experimental data.     

Particle suspension in a simple shear flow

A hydrodynamic model describing the particle distribution over the cross-section of a finely dispersed flow is proposed. The model is constructed on the basis of notions concerning the diffusion of particles induced by their random displacements in the process of relative motion of neighboring layers at constant shear velocity. It is shown that the suspension capacity of the flow is large for small particles due to thermal fluctuations and for relatively large particles due to shear-induced particle pulsations. There are critical particle sizes for which the particles are suspended and transported by the flow less effectively than larger or smaller particles.Ekaterinburg. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 112–121, January–February, 1995.     

悬浮颗粒运动的格子Boltzmann数值模拟

将固体颗粒的牛顿力学和格子Boltzmann方法相结合,研究不规则形状悬浮颗粒在流场中的运动。通过受力分析,精确求得其所受合力、合力矩、合力作用中心等。提出了跟随颗粒运动的动网格计算域技术和模拟悬浮颗粒转动运动的局部数组方法及Euler-Lagrange两套坐标技术。通过对椭圆颗粒运动的数值模拟和对照他人对矩形颗粒的研究,分析了其复杂运动规律,并提供了合理的物理解释。结果表明:运用格子Boltzmann方法和上述特殊技术可以得到与有限元方法相同的模拟精度,且具有计算速度快、对复杂形状边界处理方便灵活、程序简单及特别适合大规模并行计算等优点。     

稀疏两相湍流的惯性颗粒倾向性弥散

气相采用大涡模拟、颗粒相采用拉格朗日轨道模型的方法对后台阶突扩流、充分发展槽道流和圆湍射流3种典型的稀疏气固两相流动进行了数值模拟,研究了颗粒倾向性弥散的特征和规律. 研究表明颗粒的跟随性和倾向性相联系,颗粒惯性和大涡结构同时决定颗粒的倾向性分布特征. Stokes数量级为1(气相时间参考尺度取为宏观特征时间尺度)左右的颗粒,倾向性分布特征最强烈. 颗粒倾向分布于低涡量(或是低脉动速度)的湍流区域.      

Transport, Mixing and Agglomeration of Particles in Turbulent Flows

This paper describes methods and approaches that have been used to simulate and model the transport, mixing and agglomeration of small particles in a flowing turbulent gas. The transported particles because of their inertia are assumed not to follow the motion of the large scales of the turbulence and or the motion of the small dissipating scales of the turbulence. We show how both these behaviours can be represented by a PDF approach analogous to that used in classical kinetic theory. For large scale dispersion the focus is on transport in simple generic flows like statistically stationary homogeneous and isotropic turbulence and simple shear flows. Special consideration is given to the transport and deposition of particles in turbulent boundary layers. For small scale transport the focus is on how the small scales of turbulence together with the particle inertial response enhance collision processes like particle agglomeration. In this case the importance of segregation and the formation of caustics, singularities and random uncorrelated motion is highlighted and discussed.     

Particle statistics in a gas–solid coaxial strongly swirling flow: A direct numerical simulation

A direct numerical simulation of a strongly coaxial swirling particle-laden flow is conducted with reference to a previous experiment. The carrier phase is simulated as a coaxial swirling flow through a short nozzle injecting into a large container. The particle phase is carried by the primary jet, and simulated in the Lagrangian approach. The drag force, slip-shear force and slip-rotation force experienced by particles are calculated. A partial validation of the results is followed. The results are analyzed in Eulerian approach focusing on the statistical behavior of particle motion. The relative importance of the drag, slip-shear and slip-rotation forces under different Stokes numbers is indicated quantitatively. The particle velocity profiles, fluctuations, Reynolds stress, and turbulence intensity are demonstrated and analyzed respectively. An important “choke” behavior for large particles within the mainstream is found and interpreted. Additionally, the patterns of particle distribution and the helical structures of particle motion under different Stokes numbers are demonstrated qualitatively and analyzed quantitatively.     

HYDRODYNAMIC RESISTANCE EFFECT OF FLUID LAYER BETWEEN TWO IMMERSED APPROACHING PARTICLES

1. Introduction The mechanisms of impact and rebound of solid parti- cles in particulate flow systems are of interest over a wide range of application areas such as fluidized beds, pneu- matic transport, filtration processes, erosion and pollution control of suspended particles. In many cases, the colli- sions of particles against themselves and against walls may affect the properties of the mixture. Efforts have been made to describe the fundamental mechanics of particle collisions. The conta…     

Application of DEM modified with enlarged particle model to simulation of bead motion in a bead mill

We applied the discrete element method （DEM） of simulation modified by an enlarged particle model to simulate bead motion in a large bead mill. The stainless-steel bead mill has inner diameter of 102 mm and mill length of 198 mm. The bead diameter and filling ratio were fixed respectively at 0.5 mm and 85%. The agitator rotational speed was changed from 1863 to 3261 rpm. The bead motion was monitored experimentally using a high-speed video camera through a transparent mill body. For the simulation, enlarged particle sizes were set as 3-6 mm in diameter. With the DEM modified by the enlarged particle model, the motion of enlarged particles in a mill was simulated.The velocity data of the simulated enlarged particles were compared with those obtained in the experiment. The simulated velocity of the enlarged particles depends on the virtual frictional coefficient in the DEM model. The optimized value of the virtual frictional coefficient can be determined by considering the accumulated mean value. Results show that the velocity of the enlarged particles simulated increases with an increase in the optimum virtual frictional coefficient, but the simulated velocity agrees well with that determined experimentally by optimizing the virtual frictional coefficient in the simulation. The computing time in the simulation decreases with increased particle size.     

Importance of unsteady contributions to force and heating for particles in compressible flows. Part 2: Application to particle dispersal by blast waves

Particle dispersal by blast waves is an interesting phenomenon. A model problem, i.e., a sudden release of a compressed gas–particle mixture contained in a spherical container, is employed to investigate the fundamental physics of particle dispersal. The problem is simulated by the multiphase flow models proposed in Part 1 of this article that include unsteady contributions in momentum and energy exchange between gas and particles. At early times, when particles are accelerated in the expansion fan, unsteady force and heating contributions are much larger than the corresponding quasi-steady contributions. Consequently, neglecting unsteady contributions leads to significant errors in particle front location (the boundary of the particle cloud). The complex wave interactions in the flow have strong influence on the particle motion. As a result, the particle motion is a non-monotonic function of particle density or diameter and the evolution of particle concentration is non-uniform and unsteady.     

Statistical model of collisions of bidisperse particles in an anisotropic turbulent flow

A statistical model for describing the motion and collisions of a bidisperse mixture of particles in anisotropic turbulent flows is presented. The model is based on a kinetic equation for the particle velocity probability density function (PDF). The results are compared with the data of a direct numerical simulation of the sedimentation of a bidisperse mixture of particles under the action of the gravity force.     

Dynamic simulation of sedimentation of solid particles in an Oldroyd-B fluid

In this paper we present a two-dimensional numerical study of the viscoelastic effects on the sedimentation of particles in the presence of solid walls or another particle. The Navier-Stokes equations coupled with an Oldroyd-B model are solved using a finite-element method with the EVSS formalism, and the particles are moved according to their equations of motion. In a vertical channel filled with a viscoelastic fluid, a particle settling very close to one side wall experiences a repulsion from the wall; a particle farther away from the wall is attracted toward it. Thus a settling particle will approach an eccentric equilibrium position, which depends on the Reynolds and Deborah numbers. Two particles settling one on top of the other attract and form a doublet if their initial separation is not too large. Two particles settling side by side approach each other and the doublet also rotates till the line of centers is aligned with the direction of sedimentation. The particle-particle interactions are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations, while the wall repulsion has not been documented in experiments. The driving force for lateral migrations is shown to correlate with the pressure distribution on the particle's surface. As a rule, viscoelasticity affects the motion of particles by modifying the pressure distribution on their surface. The direct contribution of viscoelastic normal stresses to the force and torque is not important.     

湍流边界层中固体颗粒运动的数值模拟

根据Ｌａｇｒａｎｇｅ颗粒运动微分方程及不可压缩湍流边界层中流体的壁面速度分布规律，数值求解了颗粒在湍流边界层中的运动，考虑了Ｓａｆｆｍａｎ升为对颗粒运动的影响，壁面对运动阻力的影响，给出了固体颗粒沉积边壁，在边界层外缘上所需的最小速度和最小入射角，计算结果还表明边界层对固体颗粒撞击边壁的速度和入射角有较大影响，从数值结果可可以发现一个重要现象。     

Dynamics of particles floating on liquid flowing in a semicircular open channel

The dynamic characteristics of surface-floating particles in liquids flowing in a two-dimensional, semicircular open channel is studied experimentally. For high visibility in the experiments, relatively large particles are employed whose particle-liquid density ratio is either equal to or less than unity. Particles of different size and geometry are tested in a water-glycerin mixture. A video camera traces the pathline of each particle from which the velocity and direction of particle motion are evaluated. Liquid velocity distribution is determined by hot-film anemometry. A modified dynamics (Basset-Boussinesq-Oseen) equation is derived and numerically solved by means of a finite-difference technique to determine fluid velocity. A new dimensionless parameter is disclosed which is pertinent to both particle geometry and fluid flow conditions. It correlates particle trajectory and velocity, trajectory dispersion and fluid-particle velocity ratio.Visiting Scholar on leave from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fukuyama University, Fukujama, Japan     

基于超二次曲面的非球形离散单元模型研究

通过对颗粒体系接触过程的运动学和动力学分析,建立了一种基于超二次曲面的非球形离散单元模型,该模型避免了球形接触模型描述颗粒形状的局限性,使离散单元法更接近物理事实,并在此基础上提出了计算求解模型的数值方法,实现了对复杂形状的颗粒体系的模拟计算。将所建立的数值计算方法进行了编程实现,并对模型和算法进行了算例测试,证实了本文所建立的非球形离散单元模型的可行性和正确性。测试结果表明,本文的模型能够比较准确地模拟复杂颗粒体系的真实运动,可为复杂颗粒体系的模拟研究提供一种新的数值计算方法。     

冲击载荷作用下颗粒材料动态力学响应的近场动力学模拟

颗粒材料在冲击载荷作用下的动态力学行为是学术界关注的热点问题. 新近问世的近场动力学(peridynamics)理论将材料视为由大量有限体积和有限质量的物质点组成,基于非连续性和非局部作用假定建模,建立空间积分形式的运动方程,自然适应于颗粒材料动态力学行为的描述与分析. 发展了描述颗粒间接触作用的物质点尺度的排斥力模型,考虑近场动力学方法中非局部长程力特征,改进了近场动力学中的初始微观弹脆性(prototype microelastic brittle, PMB) 模型的本构力函数,并消除了原PMB 模型中存在的“边界效应” 问题. 计算分析了冲击载荷作用下碳化钨陶瓷颗粒体系的动态力学响应,得到了不同冲击速度下颗粒体系的冲击波速,PD计算结果与试验结果高度一致;通过颗粒物质点尺度作用描述单颗粒尺度的接触作用,很好地再现了颗粒的转动与平动、颗粒挤压变形以及颗粒破碎等现象;刚性冲击板附近同时存在严重的颗粒破碎与轻微的颗粒损伤,远离冲击板的部分颗粒出现破损,且颗粒破碎主要是由颗粒间挤压、碰撞以及相对滑动剪切作用造成的. 研究结果表明,所发展的计算模型和分析方法能很好地反映颗粒材料动态力学行为,具有广泛的应用价值.      

Modelling overall particle motion in fluidised beds for top-spray coating processes

A mathematical model predicting the overall particle motion in liquid-sprayed gas–solid fluidised beds has been developed. The proposed model is a superposition of bubble-induced particle motion and particle random walk. The model was validated using experimental particle residence times from literature. Good agreement between experimental and model-predicted residence times was obtained for those cases where atomisation air was absent and on the condition of the inclusion of a so-called “dead zone”. The “dead zone”, being a region of stagnant particles in the annular bottom part of the bed, has also been previously reported in literature. In case atomisation air was present, a less favourable agreement was seen between the model and the experiment. As the atomisation air has been shown to significantly alter the ejection distance of particles in the freeboard, recalibration of the ejection height parameter has been demonstrated to obtain an acceptable agreement between model-predicted and experimental data.     

Application of DEM modified with enlarged particle model to simulation of bead motion in a bead mill

We applied the discrete element method (DEM) of simulation modified by an enlarged particle model to simulate bead motion in a large bead mill. The stainless-steel bead mill has inner diameter of 102 mm and mill length of 198 mm. The bead diameter and filling ratio were fixed respectively at 0.5 mm and 85%. The agitator rotational speed was changed from 1863 to 3261 rpm. The bead motion was monitored experimentally using a high-speed video camera through a transparent mill body. For the simulation, enlarged particle sizes were set as 3–6 mm in diameter. With the DEM modified by the enlarged particle model, the motion of enlarged particles in a mill was simulated. The velocity data of the simulated enlarged particles were compared with those obtained in the experiment. The simulated velocity of the enlarged particles depends on the virtual frictional coefficient in the DEM model. The optimized value of the virtual frictional coefficient can be determined by considering the accumulated mean value. Results show that the velocity of the enlarged particles simulated increases with an increase in the optimum virtual frictional coefficient, but the simulated velocity agrees well with that determined experimentally by optimizing the virtual frictional coefficient in the simulation. The computing time in the simulation decreases with increased particle size.