Construction of irregular particles with superquadric equation in DEM

Non-spherical particles are widely present in industrial production, and significantly affect the macro and micro characteristics of granular materials. Although the superquadric equation can be used to construct non-spherical particles, its disadvantage is that the particle shape is geometrically symmetric and strictly convex. In this study, two composed approaches are used to describe geometrically asymmetric and concave particle shapes, including a multi-superquadric model and a poly-superquadric model. The multi-superquadric model is a combination of several superquadric elements, and can construct concave and geometrically asymmetric particle shapes.The poly-superquadric model is a combination of eight one-eighth superquadric elements, and can construct convex and geometrically asymmetric particle shapes. Both composed models are based on superquadric equations, and Newton's iterative method is used to calculate the contact force between the elements. Furthermore, superquadric elements, multi-superquadric elements,and poly-superquadric elements are applied for the formation of complex granular beds, and the influences of particle shape on the packing fraction can be successfully captured by the proposed models.     

水底管道抛石加固过程的DEM-SPH耦合分析

水底管道的抛石加固过程是典型的颗粒-流体耦合问题.采用DEM-SPH耦合方法模拟颗粒-流体系统,其中离散元方法(DEM)用于模拟落石,光滑粒子流体动力学方法(SPH)用于模拟流体.通过三维Voronoi切割算法生成不规则形状的多面体,并基于闵可夫斯基原理构造扩展多面体形态的落石单元.通过SPH的边界排斥力模型计算颗粒与流体间的作用力,从而建立DEM-SPH耦合方法.采用该方法模拟溃坝与楔形块入水的过程,将计算结果与试验结果及其他数值结果进行对比分析,分别验证了 SPH与DEM-SPH耦合方法的合理性.建立锥形结构模拟卸料斗和水底管道,采用DEM-SPH耦合方法模拟落石通过卸料斗入水并与水底管道相互作用的过程,确定了落石和水对管道的作用力,并分析了卸料斗静止与运动时的落石堆积情况.以上研究表明,DEM-SPH方法可有效模拟颗粒材料、水和工程结构的相互作用,可进一步应用于水下抛石过程的结构和参数设计.     

An extended unresolved CFD-DEM coupling method for simulation of fluid and non-spherical particles

This study develops an extended unresolved CFD-DEM coupling method for simulation of the fluid–solid flow with non-spherical particles. The limitation of fluid grid size is discussed, by simulating the settling of a cylinder in a Newtonian fluid based on the resolved and unresolved CFD-DEM coupling method. Then, the calculation of porosity and the fluid–particle relative velocity based on the particle shape enlargement method for simulation of non-spherical particles is proposed. The availability of the particle shape enlargement method for the simulation of non-spherical particles with different sphericity is discussed in this work, by comparing it with the results from the equivalent diameter enlargement method. The limitation of the equivalent diameter enlargement method for non-spherical particles is revealed from the simulation results. Several typical cases are employed to elaborate and verify the extended unresolved CFD-DEM method based on particle shape enlargement method, by presenting a good consistency with the experimental results. It proves that the extended unresolved CFD-DEM method is suitable for different CFD grid size ratios, and consolidates that it is a universal calculation method for CFD-DEM coupling simulation.     

考虑等效曲率的超二次曲面单元非线性接触模型

基于连续函数包络的超二次曲面单元可有效地描述自然界和工业生产中的非球体颗粒形态, 并通过非线性迭代方法精确计算单元间的接触力. 对于具有复杂几何形态的超二次曲面单元, 线性接触模型不能准确地计算不同接触模式下的作用力. 考虑超二次曲面单元相互作用时不同颗粒形状及表面曲率的影响, 本文发展了相应的非线性黏弹性接触模型. 该模型将不同接触模式下的法向刚度和黏滞力统一表述为单元间局部接触点处等效曲率半径的函数; 切向接触作用则借鉴基于Mohr-Coulomb摩擦定律的球体单元非线性接触模型的计算方法. 为检验超二次曲面单元接触模型的可靠性, 对球形颗粒间的法向碰撞、椭球体颗粒间的斜冲击过程、圆柱体的静态堆积和椭球体的动态卸料过程进行离散元模拟, 并与有限元数值结果及试验结果进行对比验证. 计算表明, 考虑接触点处等效曲率半径的超二次曲面非线性接触模型可准确地计算单元间的接触碰撞作用, 并合理地反映非球形颗粒体系的运动规律. 在此基础上进一步分析了不同长宽比和表面尖锐度对卸料过程中颗粒流动特性的影响, 为非球形颗粒材料的流动特性分析提供了一种有效的离散元方法.      

含液颗粒材料液固耦合分析的离散颗粒模型及特征线SPH法

对含液颗粒材料流固耦合分析建议了一个基于离散颗粒模型与特征线SPH法的显式拉格朗日-欧拉无网格方案。在已有的用以模拟固体颗粒集合体的离散颗粒模型[1]基础上,将颗粒间间隙内的流体模型化为连续介质,对其提出并推导了基于特征线的SPH法。数值例题显示了所建议方案在模拟颗粒材料与间隙流相互作用的能力和性能以及间隙流体对颗粒结构承载能力及变形的影响。     

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.     

CFD-DEM simulation of the hole cleaning process in a deviated well drilling: The effects of particle shape

We investigate the effect of particle shape on the transportation mechanism in well-drilling using a three-dimensional model that couples computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the discrete element method (DEM). This numerical method allows us to incorporate the fluid–particle interactions (drag force, contact force, Saffman lift force, Magnus lift force, buoyancy force) using momentum exchange and the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. The interactions of particle−particle, particle−wall, and particle−drill pipe are taken into account with the Hertz–Mindlin model. We compare the transport of spheres with non-spherical particles (non-smooth sphere, disc, and cubic) constructed via the multi-sphere method for a range of fluid inlet velocities and drill pipe inclination angles. The simulations are carried out for laboratory-scale drilling configurations. Our results demonstrate good agreement with published experimental data. We evaluate the fluid–particle flow patterns, the particle velocities, and the particle concentration profiles. The results reveal that particle sphericity plays a major role in the fluid–solid interaction. The traditional assumption of an ideal spherical particle may cause inaccurate results.     

NUMERICAL CALCULATION OF LONDON-VAN DER WAALS ADHESION FORCE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR DIFFERENT SHAPED PARTICLES

A basic method to calculate van der Waals dispersion force distributions for submicron superquadric particles in particle-wall systems is presented. The force distribution is achieved by rotating particles through a large number of arbitrary spatial orientations, each time keeping constant the contact distance to the wall surface while calculating the dispersion force. To accomplish this, the use of 2D particle shape suffices, that is, through using an inter-dimensional function, which has been determined previously. A further development of the method within digital image analysis may lead to possible applications to forecasting the macroscopic properties of particle systems, for example, flowability, agglomeration behavior or dispersibility. For small ranges of superquadric particle shapes, each with a different size, the way from determining the inter-dimensional function up to applying image analysis is shown in an example.     

基于水平集-离散元方法的球谐函数颗粒材料缓冲性能分析

在自然环境与工业领域中,颗粒材料是一种常见的缓冲材料,其中大量形态各异的非球形颗粒表现出复杂的力学特性并应用于不同工程领域。本文采用球谐函数构造不同球面度和表面凹凸特性的非规则颗粒,通过水平集方法计算球谐函数颗粒间的接触点和碰撞力,并对冲击过程中球形和凹形颗粒的缓冲性能进行离散元分析。数值结果表明,颗粒床厚度、冲击速度和颗粒形状显著影响球谐函数颗粒材料的缓冲性能。颗粒床底部的冲击力峰值随着颗粒床厚度和表面凹凸性的增加而降低,同时冲击力峰值随着冲击速度和颗粒球面度的增加而增加。与球形颗粒相比,球谐函数颗粒具有凹凸表面和多接触点特性,这有利于冲击荷载向四周扩展并提高凹形颗粒的缓冲效果。     

Numerical simulation of polygonal particles moving in incompressible viscous fluids

A two-dimensional coupled lattice Boltzmann immersed boundary discrete element method is introduced for the simulation of polygonal particles moving in incompressible viscous fluids. A collision model of polygonal particles is used in the discrete element method. Instead of a collision model of circular particles, the collision model used in our method can deal with particles of more complex shape and efficiently simulate the effects of shape on particle–particle and particle–wall interactions. For two particles falling under gravity, because of the edges and corners, different collision patterns for circular and polygonal particles are found in our simulations. The complex vortexes generated near the corners of polygonal particles affect the flow field and lead to a difference in particle motions between circular and polygonal particles. For multiple particles falling under gravity, the polygonal particles easily become stuck owing to their corners and edges, while circular particles slip along contact areas. The present method provides an efficient approach for understanding the effects of particle shape on the dynamics of non-circular particles in fluids.     

柔性微粒介电泳分离过程的多尺度模拟

介电泳分离是一种高效的微细颗粒分离技术,利用非均匀电场极化并操纵分离微流道中的颗粒. 柔性微粒在介电泳分离过程中同时受多种物理场、多相流和微粒变形等复杂因素的影响,仅用单一的计算方法对其进行模拟存在一定的难度,本文采用有限单元——格子玻尔兹曼耦合计算的方法处理这一难题.介观尺度的格子玻尔兹曼方法将流体看成由大量微小粒子组成,在离散格子上求解玻尔兹曼输运方程,易于处理多相流及大变形问题,特别适合模拟柔性颗粒在介电泳分离过程中的变形情况.另一方面,介电泳分离过程的模拟需求解流体、电场和微粒运动方程,计算量相当庞大,通过有限单元法求解介电泳力,提高计算效率.利用这种多尺度耦合计算方法,对一款现有的介电泳芯片分离过程进行了模拟.分析了微粒在电场作用下产生的介电泳力,揭示了介电泳力与电场变化率等因素之间的关系.对微粒运动轨迹及其变形的情况进行了研究,发现微粒的变形主要与流体剪切作用有关.这种多尺度耦合计算方法,为复杂微流体的计算提供了一种有效的解决方案.      

气固两相流介尺度LBM-DEM模型

LBM-DEM耦合方法通常是指一种颗粒流体系统直接数值模拟算法,即是一种不引入经验曳力模型的计算方法,颗粒尺寸通常比计算网格的长度大一个量级,颗粒的受力通过表面的粘性力与压力积分获得,其优点是能描述每个颗粒周围的详细流场,产生详细的颗粒-流体相互作用的动力学信息,可以探索颗粒流体界面的流动、传递和反应的详细信息及两相相互作用的本构关系,但其缺点是计算量巨大,无法应用于真实流化床过程模拟。本文针对气固流化床中的流体以及固体颗粒间的多相流体力学行为,建立了一种稠密气固两相流的介尺度LBMDEM模型,即LBM-DEM耦合的离散颗粒模型,实现在颗粒尺度上流化床的快速离散模拟。该耦合模型采用格子玻尔兹曼方法(LBM)描述气相的流动和传递行为,离散单元法(DEM)用于描述颗粒相的运动,并利用能量最小多尺度(EMMS)曳力解决气固耦合不成熟问题,以提高其模拟精度。通过经典快速流态化的模拟,验证了介尺度LBM-DEM耦合模型的有效性。模拟结果表明介尺度LBM-DEM模型是一种探索实验室规模气固系统的有力手段。     

Numerical modeling of fluid-particle interaction in granular media

Fluid-particle interaction underpins important behavior of granular media. Particle-scale simulation may help to provide key microscopic information governing the interaction and offer better understanding of granular media as a whole. This paper presents a coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) approach for this purpose. The granular particle system is modeled by DEM, while the fluid flow is simulated by solving the locally averaged Navier–Stokes equation with CFD. The coupling is considered by exchanging such interaction forces as drag force and buoyancy force between the DEM and CFD. The approach is benchmarked by two classic geomechanics problems for which analytical solutions are available, and is further applied to the prediction of sand heap formation in water through hopper flow. It is demonstrated that the key characteristic of granular materials interacting with pore water can be successfully captured by the proposed method.     

DEM investigation on conveying of non-spherical particles in a screw conveyor

Screw conveyors are extensively used in modern industry such as metallurgy, architecture and pharmaceutical due to their high-efficiency in the transportation of granular materials. And substantial efforts have been devoted to the study of the screw conveyors. Numerical method is an effective way to study screw conveyor. However, previous studies have mainly focused in the regime of spherical particles while the in-depth investigations for non-spherical particles that should be the most encountered in practical applications are still limited. In view of the above situations, discrete element method (DEM), which has been widely accepted in simulating the discrete systems, is utilized to investigate the conveying process of non-spherical particles in a horizontal screw conveyor, with particles being modeled by super-ellipsoids. In addition, a wear model called SIEM (Shear Impact Energy Model) is incorporated into DEM to predict the wear of screw conveyor. The DEM simulation results demonstrate that the particle shape is influential for the flow behaviors of particles and the wear of conveyor. The conveying performance evaluated quantitatively of both mass flow rate and power consumption is subsequently obtained to investigate the effect of sphericity of particle with different operation parameters. Moreover, particle collision frequency and collision energy consumption are acquired to investigate the possible particle breakage between particles and screw blade. The comparisons between particle–particle collision and particle–wall collision reveal that particles with large shape index have more possibility to be damaged in particle–wall impingement.     

GPU-enhanced DEM analysis of flow behaviour of irregularly shaped particles in a full-scale twin screw granulator

During twin screw granulation (TSG), small particles, which generally have irregular shapes, agglomerate together to form larger granules with improved properties. However, how particle shape impacts the conveying characteristics during TSG is not explored nor well understood. In this study, a graphic processor units (GPUs) enhanced discrete element method (DEM) is adopted to examine the effect of particle shape on the conveying characteristics in a full scale twin screw granulator for the first time. It is found that TSG with spherical particles has the smallest particle retention number, mean residence time, and power consumption; while for TSG with hexagonal prism (Hexp) shaped particles the largest particle retention number is obtained, and TSG with cubic particles requires the highest power consumption. Furthermore, spherical particles exhibit a flow pattern closer to an ideal plug flow, while cubic particles present a flow pattern approaching a perfect mixing. It is demonstrated that the GPU-enhanced DEM is capable of simulating the complex TSG process in a full-scale twin screw granulator with non-spherical particles.     

非牛顿流体固粒悬浮流的若干问题

非牛顿流体固粒悬浮流具有广泛的应用背景,其特殊的流动属性使其成为一些新兴技术领域的核心突破点.同时,该流动又比较复杂,即便是在低固粒浓度的情况下,非牛顿流体特性也会对整个系统的微结构产生重要的影响,从而进一步影响固粒的运动.本文给出了非牛顿流体方程、固粒运动方程和非牛顿流体固粒悬浮流的特征参数,分析了这些参数的作用;阐述了单个固粒在管道中的径向移动、多固粒的相互作用和聚集、多固粒形成的链状结构以及非圆球固粒运动等方面的研究成果、结果分析以及尚未解决的问题,并对以上问题进行了总结和展望,给出了需要深入研究的具体问题和内容,旨在为进一步的研究提供参考和依据.     

基于离散元法的干湿颗粒系统仿真

介绍了基于离散元法的干湿颗粒系统仿真软件DEMSIM。对于干颗粒系统,DEMSIM可以分析二维和三维颗粒系统的弹性和塑性接触碰撞过程;对于湿颗粒系统,DEMSIM采用传统的液桥模型;对于颗粒-流体系统,DEMSIM采用CFD-DEM细观耦合模型模拟。一系列典型算例的模拟分析,验证了干湿颗粒系统仿真软件DEMSIM的精度和有效性。     

Modeling particle sedimentation in viscous fluids with a coupled immersed boundary method and discrete element method

Numerical techniques have increasingly been used to model fluid–particle two-phase flows. Coupling the immersed boundary method (IBM) and discrete element method (DEM) is one promising approach for modeling particulate flows. In this study, IBM was coupled with DEM to improve the reliability and accuracy of IBM for determining the positions of particles during the sedimentation process within viscous fluids. The required ratio of the particle diameter to the grid size (D/dx) was determined by comparing the simulation results with the analytical solution and experimental data. A dynamic mesh refinement model was utilised in the IBM model to refine the computational fluid dynamics grid near the particles. In addition, an optimum coupling interval between the IBM and DEM models was determined based on the experimental results of a single particle sedimentation within silicon oil at a Reynolds number of 1.5. The experimental results and the analytical solution were then utilised to validate the IBM–DEM model at Reynolds numbers of 4.1, 11.6, and 31.9. Finally, the validated model was utilised to investigate the sedimentation process for more than one particle by modeling the drafting-kissing-tumbling process and the Boycott phenomenon. Benchmark tests showed that the IBM–DEM technique preserves the advantages of DEM for tracking a group of particles, while the IBM provides a reliable and accurate approach for modeling the particle–fluid interaction.     

微流道内椭圆粒子黏弹性聚焦数值模拟研究

黏弹性聚焦技术借助微尺度黏弹性流体的惯性和弹性耦合效应,能够实现生物粒子在流道中心的单一位置聚焦排列,被认为是未来生物粒子计数以及检测的理想预处理单元,因而引起了广泛的关注．自然界中的生物粒子往往是非球形的,故而研究不同形状粒子在黏弹性流体中的迁移特性具有十分重要的价值．本文通过格子玻尔兹曼方法耦合浸入边界法,对椭球粒子在直流道内黏弹性流体中的聚焦行为进行了系统的数值模拟研究．结果表明,面积相同但长径比不同的椭圆粒子在黏弹性流体中有不同的旋转周期与迁移速度．长径比更大的粒子旋转周期更长,且长径比大于3.5 的粒子甚至不再有明显的旋转．长径比更大的粒子上下两侧的黏弹性力分布更加平缓,受到指向流道中心的弹性力更小,使得粒子横向迁移速度更慢从而导致了长径比不同的椭圆粒子聚焦至流道中心所需时间的差异．此外,Weissenberg 数Wi 的增加同样能够减弱粒子的旋转,使得长径比稍小的粒子也能和长径比为1.0 的圆形粒子产生明显的分离．上述数值模拟的结论,为不同长径比粒子在黏弹性流体中的聚焦与分选应用提供了重要的理论指导．