CFD–DEM simulation of the pneumatic conveying of fine particles through a horizontal slit

Fine particles play a significant role in many industrial processes. To study the dynamic behavior of fine particle and their deposition in rock fractures, the pneumatic conveying of fine particles (approximately 100 μm in diameter) through a small-scale horizontal slit (0.41 m × 0.025 m) was studied, which is useful for the sealing technology of underground gas drainage in coal mining production. The CFD–DEM method was adopted to model the gas-particle two-phase flow; the gas phase was treated as a continuum and modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle motion and collisions were simulated using the DEM code. Then, the bulk movement of fine particles through a small-scale horizontal slit was explored numerically, and the flow patterns were further investigated by visual inspection. The simulation results indicated that stratified flow or dune flow can be observed at low gas velocities. For intermediate gas velocities, the flow patterns showed pulsation phenomena, and dune flow reappeared in the tail section. Moreover, periodic flow regimes with alternating thick and sparse stream structures were observed at a high gas velocity. The simulation results of the bulk movement of fine particles were in good agreement with the experimental findings, which were obtained by video-imaging experiments. Furthermore, the calculated pressure drop versus gas velocity profile was investigated and compared with relative experimental findings, and the results showed good agreement. Furthermore, the particle velocity vectors and voidage distribution were numerically simulated. Selected stimulation results are presented and provide a reference for the further study of fine particles.     

New discrete element models for elastoplastic problems

The discrete element method （DEM） has attractive features for problems with severe damages, but lack of theoretical basis for continua behavior especially for nonlinear behavior has seriously restricted its application. The present study proposes a new approach to developing the DEM as a general and robust technique for modeling the elastoplastic behavior of solid materials. New types of connective links between elements are proposed, the interelement parameters are theoretically determined based on the principle of energy equivalence and a yield criterion and a flow rule for DEM are given for describing nonlinear behavior of materials. Moreover, a numerical scheme, which can be applied to modeling the behavior of a continuum as well as the transformation from a continuum to a discontinuum, is obtained by introducing a fracture criterion and a contact model into the DEM. The elastoplastic stress wave propagations and the tensile failure process of a steel plate are simulated, and the numerical results agree well with those obtained from the finite element method （FEM） and corresponding experiment, and thus the accuracy and efficiency of the DEM scheme are demonstrated.     

DEM simulation of particle mixing in a sheared granular flow

Mixing behaviors of particles are simulated in a sheared granular flow using differently colored but otherwise identical glass spheres, with five different bottom wall velocities. By DEM simulation, the solid fractions, velocities, velocity fluctuations and granular temperatures are measured. The mixing layer thicknesses are compared with the calculations from a simple diffusion equation using the data of apparent self-diffusion coefficients obtained from the current simulation measurements. The calculations and simulation results showed good agreements, demonstrating that the mixing process of granular materials occurred through the diffusion mechanism.     

DEM simulations of die filling during pharmaceutical tabletting

The flow behaviour of powders from a stationary shoe into a moving die, which mimics the die filling process in a rotary tablet press, was analysed using a discrete element method （DEM）, in which 2D irregular shaped particles were considered. The influence of the particle shape, size and size distribution, the number of particles used in the simulation, the initial height of powder bed in the shoe, and the filling speed on the average mass flow rate and the critical filling speed （the highest speed at which the die can be completely filled） were explored. It has been found that a maximum flow rate is obtained at the critical filling speed for all systems investigated and poly-disperse systems have higher mass flow rates and higher critical filling speeds than mono-disperse systems. In addition, the powder with particles which can tessellate generally has a lower filling rate and a lower critical titling speed.     

Determination of contact parameters for discrete element method simulations of granular systems

Both linear-spring-dashpot (LSD) and non-linear Hertzian-spring-dnshpot (HSD) contact models are commonly used for the calculation of contact forces in Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of granular systems.Despite the popularity of these models, determination of suitable values for the contact parameters of the simulated particles such as stiffness, damping coefficient, coefficient of restitution, and simulation time step,is not altogether obvious.In this work the relationships between these contact parameters for a model system where a particle impacts on a flat base are examined.Recommendations are made concerning the determination of these contact parameters for use in DEM simulations.     

基于栅格的分布式超渗产流水文模型构建及比较

利用具有物理机制的Green-Ampt下渗方法并考虑降雨间歇土壤含水量再分配计算栅格内产流;同时考虑河道排水网络的水量交换,采用逐栅格的Muskingum-Cunge演算法进行汇流,构建了基于栅格的分布式超渗产流水文模型(Grid-GA模型).同时还建立了基于子流域的Green-Ampt水文模型、以及增加超渗产流机制的新安江模型.将这3个模型以及新安江模型应用于半湿润的沂河高里流域,结果表明,4个水文模型均能很好地进行水文过程的模拟,证明所构建的模型结构合理.     

塔里木河下游数字地下水埋深模型的构建

根据数字地面模型的概念,利用航空拍摄的地面高程数据和地下水观测孔观测得到的地下水水位数据,建立了塔里木河下游地区的数字高程模型和数字地下水水位模型,并在这两个数字模型的基础上得到了塔里木河下游的数字地下水埋深模型．从数字地下水埋深模型获得的地下水埋深分布状况可知,地下水埋深大于10m的面积占统计面积的65％．     

宝钢码头前沿沙体移动的DEM模拟

利用地理信息系统（GIS）与数字高程模型（DEM）技术定量模拟了1994年~2002年宝钢码头前的沙体冲淤演变过程,结果表明：1994年~1999年,宝钢码头前河床总体表现为冲刷,冲刷量为53.286×106m3,年平均冲刷率为10.657×106m3,1999年~2002年,仍为冲刷,冲刷量为60.277×106m3,年平均冲刷率为20.092×106m3.1994年~2002年8 a共冲刷113.563×106m3;年平均冲刷率为14.195×106m3.淤积区域主要分布在上段沙体的上部及上段沙与新浏河沙体之间的区域.宝钢码头河床的演变是河床的边界条件、来水来沙及人类活动的耦合结果.上段沙体的下移南偏对宝钢码头存在潜在的不利.