On the degradation of granular materials due to internal erosion

A new state-based elasto-plastic constitutive relationship along with the discrete element model is established to estimate the degradation of granular materials due to internal erosion.Four essential effects of internal erosion such as the force network damage and relaxation are proposed and then incorporated into the constitutive relationship to formulate internal erosion impacts on the mechanical behavior of granular materials.Most manifestations in the degradation of granular materials,such as reduction of peak strength and dilatancy are predicted by the modified constitutive relationship in good agreement with the discrete element method(DEM)simulation.In particular,the sudden reduction of stress for conspicuous mass erosion in a high stress state is captured by force network damage and the relaxation mechanism.It is concluded that the new modified constitutive relationship is a potential theory to describe the degradation of granular materials due to internal erosion and would be very useful,for instance,in the prediction and assessment of piping disaster risk during the flood season.     

Discrete element modeling of inherently anisotropic granular assemblies with polygonal particles

In the present article, we study the effect of inherent anisotropy, i.e., initial bedding angle of particles and associated voids on macroscopic mechanical behavior of granular materials, by numerical simulation of several biaxial compression tests using the discrete element method (DEM). Particle shape is considered to be irregular convex-polygonal. The effect of inherent anisotropy is investigated by following the evolution of mobilized shear strength and volume change during loading. As experimental tests have already shown, numerical simulations also indicate that initial anisotropic condition has a great influence on the strength and deformational behavior of granular assemblies. Comparison of simulations with tests using oval particles, shows that angularity influences both the mobilized shear strength and the volume change regime, which originates from the interlocking resistance between particles.     

煤仓内煤散料流动状态与力学行为影响因素

针对煤仓内煤散料流动问题及其力学行为,采用三维颗粒流模拟程序PFC3D建立了某型号煤仓与某种煤散料的离散元模型,简述了其力学模型与求解步骤,模拟分析了煤仓内煤散料卸料流动状态。通过分析水平向侧压力、颗粒速度场和接触力场,重点讨论了煤仓下部锥体内壁面摩擦系数、锥仓倾角和卸料口径等对煤散料颗粒流动状态和力学行为的影响。结果显示,深仓卸料流动为整体流动与中心流动混合状态,煤仓内壁摩擦系数、锥体倾角和卸料孔开口半径均对煤散料流动和水平侧压力有较大影响。     

颗粒流动力学及其离散模型评述

颗粒流是由众多颗粒组成的具有内在相互作用的非经典介质流动. 自然界常见颗粒流都是密集流, 颗粒间接触形成力链, 诸多力链相互交接构成支撑整个颗粒流重量和外载荷的网络, 其局部构型及强度在外载荷下演化, 是颗粒流摩擦特性和接触应力的来源.本文介绍球形颗粒间无粘连作用时的Hertz法向接触理论和Mindlin-Deresiewicz切向接触理论. Campbell依据是否生成较为稳定的力链把颗粒流分为弹性流和惯性流两大类, 其中弹性-准静态流和惯性-碰撞流分别对应准静态流和快速流, 作为两种极端流动情况通常处理成连续体, 分别采用摩擦塑性模型和动理论予以描述, 但是表征接触力链的颗粒弹性参数并不出现这两个模型和理论框架中, 如何进一步考虑颗粒弹性参数将非常困难. 目前离散动力学方法逐渐成为复现其复杂颗粒流动现象、提取实验不可能获得的内部流动信息进而综合起来探索颗粒流问题的一种有效工具, 其真实性强于连续介质理论的描述. 软球模型对颗粒间接触力简化处理, 忽略了切向接触力对法向接触力及其加载历史的依赖, 带来了法向和切向刚度系数如何标度等更艰难的物理问题, 但由于计算强度小而广泛应用于工程问题中. 硬球模型不考虑颗粒接触变形, 因而不能描述颗粒流内在接触应变等物理机理, 仅适用于快速颗粒流, 这不仅仅是由于两体碰撞的限制. 因此基于颗粒接触力学的离散颗粒动力学模型是崭新的模型,适用于准静态流到快速流整个颗粒流态的模拟, 可以细致考虑接触形变及接触力的细节,建立更为合理的颗粒流本构关系, 进而有力的促进颗粒流这一非经典介质流动的研究.      

颗粒物质在竖直管中下行蠕动流动的实验测量

颗粒流蠕动行为是颗粒物质在竖直管中流动时常见的一种流动现象,其产生机理较复杂。为此,本文在在内径为150mm、高为5000mm的竖直管实验装置上,以FCC催化剂为固体颗粒物料,采用PV6型颗粒速度测量仪,测量不同颗粒流率下竖直管中的颗粒下行蠕动流动速度以及颗粒固含率,系统地考察了颗粒物质在竖直管中下行流动时的蠕动流动特性及产生机理。实验结果表明,颗粒物质在竖直管中下行流动时的流动行为可划分为两种形式。在颗粒流率较小时,颗粒物质下行速度呈现脉冲式变化,有速度停滞,可称之为蠕动I型流动。随着颗粒流率的增加,颗粒下行速度停顿消失,但仍是起伏变化,为蠕动II型流动。当颗粒流率增大到一定值后,颗粒物质下行蠕动行为消失,转变为流化流动。颗粒物质下行的蠕动行为是出口区颗粒成拱与崩塌、颗粒与器壁滑动摩擦和颗粒力链作用的综合反映。     

颗粒介质固-流态转变的理论分析及实验研究

颗粒介质由大量离散的颗粒聚集而成,因而与传统固体和流体不同,运动过程中的颗粒介质中可能同时存在多种流态及其相互间复杂的转换过程. 颗粒介质弹性失稳机理、不可恢复应变量化是研究颗粒介质固态和流态及固-流态转变的关键. 在前期建立的双颗粒温度热力学(two-granular-temperature, TGT) 理论基础上,确定了颗粒介质的弹性稳定性条件,建立了不可恢复应变流动法则,搭建了描述颗粒固态-液态及其相互转化的简单模型. 颗粒堆积体坍塌过程是典型的颗粒介质固态和流态及其转变过程,因此本文首先开展了25 167 个陶颗粒堆积体坍塌过程的实验研究,并使用基于TGT 理论的物质点方法和离散元方法对物理实验进行了模拟. 结果表明,模型数值结果与物理实验在颗粒堆坍塌过程中的形态、速度分布等细节上吻合很好,同时也发现了现阶段所使用的物质点方法和TGT 理论的不足. 初步说明TGT 理论可以实现颗粒介质固态和流态,以及状态转变的描述.      

Multi-scale modeling of grouted sand behavior

The mechanical properties of sand: stiffness, cohesion and, to a less extent, friction angle can be increased through the process of grouting. A constitutive model adapted for cohesive-frictional materials from a homogenization technique which allowed us to integrate constitutive relations at the grain level has been developed to obtain constitutive equations for the equivalent continuous granular medium. A representative volume was obtained by mobilizing particle contacts in all orientations. Thus, the stress–strain relationship could be derived as an average of the behavior of these local contact planes. The local behavior was assumed to obey a stress-dependent elastic law and Mohr–Coulomb’s plastic law. The influence of the cement grout was modeled by means of adhesive forces between grains in contact, which were added to the contact forces created by an external load. The intensity of these adhesive forces is a function of nature and amount of grout present inside the material and can be reduced due to a damage mechanism at the grain contact during loading. In this paper, we present several examples of simulation which show that the model can reproduce with sufficient accuracy the mechanical improvement induced by grouting as well as the damage of the grain cementation during loading.     

An elastoplastic model for granular materials taking into account grain breakage

Granular materials are constituted of an assembly of particles. In spite of the simplicity of this assembly, its mechanical behaviour is complex. In the first stage we propose a framework to establish correlations between parameters of the supposedly continuous medium and grain properties which are assumed to be constant. However, this hypothesis is no longer valid in the case where physical (shape, size…) or mechanical properties (Young modulus E_g, Poisson's ratio ν_g…) of grains evolve during loading, causing the behaviour of the assembly to modify. We study the influence of the physical and mechanical parameters on grain breakage. We subsequently propose a way to model the influence of the grain breakage on granular materials and we introduce this influence in an elastoplastic constitutive model. Validations are made on two kinds of sands under isotropic and triaxial loading. Since the results of numerical computations corresponded well with the experimental data, we believe that the new model is capable of accurately simulating the behaviour of granular materials under a wide range of stresses and of taking into account, through new parameters, the individual strength of grains.     

On-line analysis of hydro-abrasive erosion of pre-cracked materials by acoustic emission

Acoustic Emission (AE) sensing technique is used as a tool for on-line monitoring of hydro-abrasive erosion (HAE) of pre-cracked multiphase materials. As reference materials, five types of concrete materials were used for the experimental study. Compression tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties and the failure behavior of these materials. Erosion parameters, such as abrasive particle velocity, local exposure time, and abrasive mass flow rate were varied during the experiments and AE-signals were acquired. The trends exhibited by the time domain and frequency domain AE-signals with change in process parameters and material properties were analyzed. The results indicate that acoustic emission signal is capable of revealing the different material removal mechanisms occurring in pre-cracked multiphase materials when subjected to hydro-abrasive erosion. Visualization studies performed on the erosion site provide more insight into the physics of the process and verify the observations made from the AE-signals. Finally, it is concluded that due to its capability to quantify the amount of material removed, AE_RMS could be considered as a parameter for monitoring the material removal process.     

Modeling interface shear behavior of granular materials using micro-polar continuum approach

Recently, the authors have focused on the shear behavior of interface between granular soil body and very rough surface of moving bounding structure. For this purpose, they have used finite element method and a micro-polar elasto-plastic continuum model. They have shown that the boundary conditions assumed along the interface have strong influences on the soil behavior. While in the previous studies, only very rough bounding interfaces have been taken into account, the present investigation focuses on the rough, medium rough and relatively smooth interfaces. In this regard, plane monotonic shearing of an infinite extended narrow granular soil layer is simulated under constant vertical pressure and free dilatancy. The soil layer is located between two parallel rigid boundaries of different surface roughness values. Particular attention is paid to the effect of surface roughness of top and bottom boundaries on the shear behavior of granular soil layer. It is shown that the interaction between roughness of bounding structure surface and the rotation resistance of bounding grains can be modeled in a reasonable manner through considered Cosserat boundary conditions. The influence of surface roughness is investigated on the soil shear strength mobilized along the interface as well as on the location and evolution of shear localization formed within the layer. The obtained numerical results have been qualitatively compared with experimental observations as well as DEM simulations, and acceptable agreement is shown.     

Relationship between single and bulk mechanical properties for zeolite ZSM5 spray-dried particles

In this work typical mechanical properties for a catalyst support material, ZSM5 （a spray-dried granular zeolite）, have been measured in order to relate the bulk behaviour of the powder material to the single particle mechanical properties. Particle shape and size distribution of the powders, determined by laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, confirmed the spherical shape of the spray-dried particles. The excellent flowability of the material was assessed by typical methods such as the Hausner ratio and the Cart index, This was confirmed by bulk measurements of the particle-particle internal friction parameter and flow function using a Schulze shear cell, which also illustrated the low compressibility of the material. Single particle compression was used to characterize single particle mechanical properties such as reduced elastic modulus and strength from Hertz contact mechanics theory. Comparison with surface properties obtained from nanoindentation suggests heterogeneity, the surface being harder than the core. In order to evaluate the relationship between single particle mechanical properties and bulk compression behaviour, uniaxial confined compression was carried out. It was determined that the Adams model was suitable for describing the bulk compression and furthermore that the Adams model parameter, apparent strength of single particles, was in good agreement with the single particle strength determined from single particle compression test.     

BIOMECHANICAL MODELING OF SURFACE WRINKLING OF SOFT TISSUES WITH GROWTH-DEPENDENT MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

This paper explores growth induced morphological instabilities in biological soft materials.In view of that the growth of a living tissue not only changes its geometry but also can alter its mechanical properties,we suggest a refined volumetric growth model incorporating the effects of growth on the mechanical properties of materials.Analogy between this volumetric growth model and the conventional thermal stress model is addressed for both small and finite deformation problems,which brings great ease for the finite element analysis based on the suggested model.Examples of growth induced surface wrinkling behavior in soft composites,including coreshell soft cylinders and three-layered soft tissues,are explored.The results and discussions foresee possible applications of the model in understanding the correlation between the morphogenesis and growth of soft biological tissues(e.g.skins and tumors),as well as in evaluating the deformation and surface instability behavior of soft artificial materials induced by swelling/shrinkage.     

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。     

密集颗粒物质的介观结构

密集颗粒物质由大量颗粒组成的多体相互作用体系,在一定条件下,颗粒互相连接,形成相对稳定的介观尺度结构,其几何和动力学性质较大程度上决定了颗粒体系的宏观物理和力学性质,因此开展颗粒的介观结构研究具有重要的理论价值,是科学的前沿之一.自然界的堆石坝、堰塞体和碎屑流,以及工程中的高温气冷堆堆芯颗粒流和先进核裂变能系统(ADS嬗变)的颗粒散裂靶等都是典型的颗粒体系,研究颗粒体系宏观力学性质是灾害预测和调控技术的关键.本文首先介绍颗粒接触力理论和简化模型的研究进展,接着介绍介观尺度结构分析方法与测量技术,颗粒体系Jamming转变、软点和颗粒微位移测量技术等,最后列举了几个关键的科学问题.颗粒介质中很多基本力学问题的解决需要借鉴物理和数学等学科的最新成果,建立新的概念和范式,从新的角度、思路、理念去认识颗粒介质的基本问题.同时,颗粒介质的基础研究还要紧密结合工程应用领域的大量相关的核心技术,与工程领域专家共同合作,使得颗粒介质的研究有的放矢,更具生命力.     

基于深度强化学习算法的颗粒材料应力?应变关系数据驱动模拟研究

颗粒材料的宏观力学行为受颗粒组分等材料参数, 孔隙率、配位数等状态参数的影响, 同时又具备复杂的加载路径和加载历史相关性, 建立包含多个内变量以及各变量间相互关联的颗粒材料本构模型是一个重要的科学难题. 不同于传统的基于屈服面、流动法则和硬化函数框架下的唯象本构模型, 本文基于颗粒物质力学的研究基础, 以颗粒材料平均孔隙率、细观组构参数和弹性刚度参数作为内变量, 结合深度学习方法建立以有向图表征的数据本构模型. 有向图中以不同的链接网络表示不同的内变量信息流动方向, 各个内变量间的映射关系采用循环神经网络来建立, 将各个神经网络相互组合, 形成包含不同内变量且具有不同预测能力的本构模型. 该本构模型的建立过程等价于在众多可能的内变量链接关系空间中寻找最能描述实际材料宏观应力应变行为的优化问题. 因此, 可将有向图本构模型的建立过程看作“马尔可夫决策过程”, 采用深度强化学习算法构建有向图的内变量链接组合优化过程, 具体采用AlphaGo Zero算法自动寻找最优的颗粒材料数据驱动本构模型建模路径. 研究结果表明, 采用有向图和深度强化学习算法可建立起完全依靠“数据驱动”的颗粒材料应力?应变关系. 此外, 本方法提供了一种将不同理论模型从数据角度统一起来, 且基于人工智能算法发展更优模型的研究思路, 可为相似问题的研究提供借鉴.      

The mesoscopic structures of dense granular materials

密集颗粒物质由大量颗粒组成的多体相互作用体系,在一定条件下,颗粒互相连接,形成相对稳定的介观尺度结构,其几何和动力学性质较大程度上决定了颗粒体系的宏观物理和力学性质,因此开展颗粒的介观结构研究具有重要的理论价值,是科学的前沿之一.自然界的堆石坝、堰塞体和碎屑流,以及工程中的高温气冷堆堆芯颗粒流和先进核裂变能系统（ADS嬗变）的颗粒散裂靶等都是典型的颗粒体系,研究颗粒体系宏观力学性质是灾害预测和调控技术的关键.本文首先介绍颗粒接触力理论和简化模型的研究进展,接着介绍介观尺度结构分析方法与测量技术,颗粒体系Jamming转变、软点和颗粒微位移测量技术等,最后列举了几个关键的科学问题.颗粒介质中很多基本力学问题的解决需要借鉴物理和数学等学科的最新成果,建立新的概念和范式,从新的角度、思路、理念去认识颗粒介质的基本问题.同时,颗粒介质的基础研究还要紧密结合工程应用领域的大量相关的核心技术,与工程领域专家共同合作,使得颗粒介质的研究有的放矢,更具生命力.     

On the coupling mechanism between nonlinear solitary waves and slender beams

This paper describes the coupling mechanism between highly nonlinear solitary waves propagating along a granular system and slender beams in contact with the granular medium. Nonlinear solitary waves are compact non-dispersive waves that can form and travel in nonlinear systems such as one-dimensional chains of particles, where they are conventionally generated by the mechanical impact of a striker. These waves have a constant spatial wavelength and their speed, amplitude, and duration can be tuned by modifying the particles’ material or size, or the velocity of the striker. In the study presented in this article we investigated numerically the interaction between solitary waves propagating along a chain of granular particles and a slender beam. Some of the numerical findings were validated experimentally. We found that the geometric and mechanical properties of the beam or thermal stress applied to the beam alter certain features of the solitary waves. In the future, these findings may be used to develop a novel sensing system for the nondestructive assessment of beams.     

Particle shape consideration in numerical simulation of assemblies of irregularly shaped particles

The mechanical behavior of granular materials depends much on the shape of the constituent particles. Therefore appropriate modeling of particle, or grain, shape is quite important. This study employed the method of direct modeling of grain shape (Matsushima & Saomto, 2002), in which, the real shape of a grain is modeled by combining arbitrary number of overlapping circular elements which are connected to each other in a rigid way. Then, accordingly, a discrete-element program is used to simulate the assembly of grains. In order to measure the effects of grain shape on mechanical properties of assembly of grains, three types of grains—high angular grains, medium angular grains and round grains are considered where several biaxial tests are conducted on assemblies with different grain types. The results show that the angularity of grains greatly affects the behavior of granular soil.     

聚苯乙烯泡沫颗粒散体和整体集合的准静态压缩力学特性

对颗粒聚苯乙烯(EPS)泡沫单粒及封闭容器中的大量颗粒整体分别进行了不同加载速率下的准静态压缩实验,获得相应的压缩应力应变曲线.分析了单颗泡沫颗粒内部气体对材料压缩性能的影响,以及大量颗粒用作包装材料时由于内、外部气体被挤出所引起的密度变化对整体应力应变关系的影响.研究表明:EPS泡沫是典型的闭胞材料,单颗颗粒内部气体...