Effects of weathering depth and thickness on rock failure:Experimental approach and particle flow code simulation

This study investigated the effects of weathering depth and thickness on the failure mechanisms of rock samples through experimental and numerical methods.The first configuration involved conducting artificial weathering on limestone using the freezing and thawing(F-T)for 40 cycles.The mechanical parameters of the samples were measured at the end of the 40th cycle.In the second configuration,a series of specimens underwent salt crystallization(S-C)tests for 20 cycles.Experimental results were validated using discrete element method(DEM).Next,the weathered limestone model with dimensions of 108 mm54 mm were prepared.The weathering layers were tested at four different thicknesses(i.e.2.5 mm,5 mm,7.5 mm,and 10 mm)and three different positions(at the surface,5 mm under the rock surface,and 10 mm under the rock surface).According to the results,weathering depth and thickness have a considerable effect on the failure process.The results also showed a correlation between the values of compressive strength and failure mechanisms associated with the weathering layer.The numerical results revealed that the tension crack was the dominant factor.Additionally,with increasing weathering thickness,Young's modulus,crack initiation stress,and final strength decreased in constant weathering depth.The results also demonstrated that the failure progress of the numerical models was similar to that observed in the laboratory.

Particle flow code simulation of intact and fissured granitic rock samples

This study presents a calibration process of three-dimensional particle flow code(PFC3D)simulation of intact and fissured granite samples.First,laboratory stressestrain response from triaxial testing of intact and fissured granite samples is recalled.Then,PFC3D is introduced,with focus on the bonded particle models(BPM).After that,we present previous studies where intact rock is simulated by means of flatjoint approaches,and how improved accuracy was gained with the help of parametric studies.Then,models of the pre-fissured rock specimens were generated,including modeled fissures in the form of“smooth joint”type contacts.Finally,triaxial testing simulations of 1 t 2 and 2 t 3 jointed rock specimens were performed.Results show that both elastic behavior and the peak strength levels are closely matched,without any additional fine tuning of micro-mechanical parameters.Concerning the postfailure behavior,models reproduce the trends of decreasing dilation with increasing confinement and plasticity.However,the dilation values simulated are larger than those observed in practice.This is attributed to the difficulty in modeling some phenomena of fissured rock behaviors,such as rock piece corner crushing with dust production and interactions between newly formed shear bands or axial splitting cracks with pre-existing joints.

Failure mechanism and stability analysis of the Zhenggang landslide in Yunnan Province of China using 3D particle flow code simulation

Based on the principle of 3D particle flow code,a numerical landslide run-out model is presented to simulate the failure process of the Zhenggang landslide(in southwestern China) under the effect of water after a rainfall.The relationship between the micro-mechanical parameters and the macro-shear strength of the grain material is determined through numerical calibrations.Then the rainfall effect is considered in numerical simulations and rain-induced sliding processes are performed,which help us to discuss the mechanism of deformation and failure of this landslide together with field observations.It shows the Zhenggang landslide would most likely be activated in Zone I and would gain momentum in Zone II.In order to prevent the potential disaster,a tailing dam is advised to be designed about 175 m downstream from the current landslide boundary of Zone II.Verified by field observations,the presented landslide model can reflect the failure mechanism after rainfall.It can also provide a method to predict the potential disaster and draft disaster prevention measures.

Numerical investigation on permeability evolution behavior of rock by an improved flow-coupling algorithm in particle flow code

Permeability is a vital property of rock mass, which is highly affected by tectonic stress and human engineering activities. A comprehensive monitoring of pore pressure and flow rate distributions inside the rock mass is very important to elucidate the permeability evolution mechanisms, which is difficult to realize in laboratory, but easy to be achieved in numerical simulations. Therefore, the particle flow code （PFC）, a discrete element method, is used to simulate permeability behaviors of rock materials in this study. Owe to the limitation of the existed solid-fluid coupling algorithm in PFC, an improved flow-coupling algorithm is presented to better reflect the preferential flow in rock fractures. The comparative analysis is conducted between original and improved algorithm when simulating rock permeability evolution during triaxial compression, showing that the improved algorithm can better describe the experimental phenomenon. Furthermore, the evolution of pore pressure and flow rate distribution during the flow process are analyzed by using the improved algorithm. It is concluded that during the steady flow process in the fractured specimen, the pore pressure and flow rate both prefer transmitting through the fractures rather than rock matrix. Based on the results, fractures are divided into the following three types： I） fractures link to both the inlet and outlet, II） fractures only link to the inlet, and III） fractures only link to the outlet. The type I fracture is always the preferential propagating path for both the pore pressure and flow rate. For type II fractures, the pore pressure increases and then becomes steady. However, the flow rate increases first and begins to decrease after the flow reaches the stop end of the fracture and finally vanishes. There is no obvious pore pressure or flow rate concentration within type III fractures.

Mechanical Behavior of Polyurethane Polymer Materials under Triaxial Cyclic Loading:A Particle Flow Code Approach

Polyurethane polymer grouting materials were studied with conventional triaxial tests via the particle flow code in two dimensions（PFC^（2D）） method, and the simulation results agreed with the experimental data. The particle flow code method can simulate the mechanical properties of the polymer. The triaxial cyclic loading tests of the polymer material under different confining pressures were carried out via PFC^（2D） to analyze its mechanical performance. The PFC^（2D） simulation results show that the value of the elastic modulus of the polymer decreases slowly at first and fluctuated within a narrow range near the value of the peak strength; the cumulative plastic strain increases slowly at first and then increases rapidly; the peak strength and elastic modulus of polymer increase with the confining pressure; the PFC^（2D） method can be used to quantitatively evaluate the damage behavior of the polymer material and estimate the fatigue life of the materials under fatigue load based on the number and the location of micro-cracks. Thus, the PFC^（2D） method is an effective tool to study polymers.

Effect of curing time on the mesoscopic parameters of cemented paste backfill simulated using the particle flow code technique

Several special mechanical properties,such as dilatancy and compressibility,of cemented paste backfill(CPB)are controlled by its internal microstructure and evolution.The mesoscopic structure changes of CPB during the development process were investigated.On the basis of the scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and mechanical test results of CPB,the particle size information of CPB was extracted,and a two-dimensional particle flow code(PFC)model of CPB was established to analyze the evolution rule of mesoscopic parameters during CPB development.The embedded FISH language in PFC was used to develop a program for establishing a PFC model on the basis of the SEM results.The mesoscopic parameters of CPB samples at different curing times,such as coordination number(C_(n)),contact force chain,and rose diagram,were obtained by recording and loading and used to analyze the intrinsic relationship between mesoscopic parameter variations and macroscopic mechanical response during CPB development.It is of considerable significance to establish the physical model of CPB using the PFC to reveal the mesoscopic structure of CPB.

DEM simulation of particle flow on a single deck banana screen

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.

Three-dimensional cellular automata based particle flow simulations of mechanical properties of talus deposit

Based on three-dimensional cellular automata （CA）, a new stochastic simulation model to simulate the microstructures and particle flow of talus deposit is proposed. Ill addition, an auto-modeling program CARS is developed, with which nunaerical simulations can be conducted conveniently. For the problem of simulating mechanical behaviors of talus deposit, spatial anangement or sphere shapes should be considered. In the new modeling method, four sphere anangement models are developed for the particle flow simulation of talus deposit. Numerical results show that the talus deposit has the mechanical characteristics of typical stress-strain curves, as other rock-like materials. The cohesion of talus deposit decreases with increasing rock content, while the internal friction angle increases with increasing rock contents. Finally, numerical simulation is verified with the results of field test.

Studies on gas turbulence and particle fluctuation in dense gas-particle flows

Particle fluctuation and gas turbulence in dense gas-particle flows are less studied due to complexity of the phenomena. In the present study, simulations of gas turbulent flows passing over a single particle are carried out first by using RANS modeling with a Reynolds stress equation turbulence model and sufficiently fine grids, and then by using LES. The turbulence enhancement by the particle wake effect is studied under various particle sizes and relative gas velocities, and the turbulence enhancement is found proportional to the particle diameter and the square of velocity. Based on the above results, a turbulence enhancement model for the particle-wake effect is proposed and is incorporated as a sub-model into a comprehensive two-phase flow model, which is then used to simulate dilute gas-particle flows in a horizontal channel. The simulation results show that the predicted gas turbulence by using the present model accounting for the particle wake effect is obviously in better agreement with the experimental results than the prediction given by the model not accounting for the wake effect. Finally, the proposed model is incorporated into another two-phase flow model to simulate dense gasparticle flows in a downer. The results show that the particle wake effect not only enhances the gas turbulence, but also amplifies the particle fluctuation.

DEM simulation of particle flow and separation in a vibrating flip-flow screen

Vibrating flip-flow screens(VFFS)with stretchable polyurethane sieve mats have been widely used in screening fine-grained materials in recent years.In this work,the discrete element method(DEM)is used to study the screening process in VFFS to explain particle flow and separation behavior at the particle scale.Unlike traditional vibrating screens,for VFFS,the amplitude response of each point on the elastic sieve mat is different everywhere.This study measures the kinematics of the elastic sieve mat under different conditions such as different stretched lengths and material loads.To establish the elastic sieve mat model in a DEM simulation,the continuous elastic sieve mat is discretized into multiple units,and the displacement signal of each unit tested is analyzed by Fourier series.The Fourier series analysis results of each unit are used as the setting parameters for motion.In this way,the movement of the elastic sieve mat is approximately simulated,and a DEM model of VFFS is produced.Through the simulation,the flow and separation of different-sized particles in VFFS are studied,and the reasonability of the simulation is verified by a pilot-scale screening experiment.The present study demonstrates the potential of the DEM method for the analysis of screening processes in VFFS.

Microdamage study of granite under thermomechanical coupling based on the particle flow code

The thermomechanical coupling of rocks refers to the interaction between the mechanical and thermodynamic behaviors of rocks induced by temperature changes.The study of this coupling interaction is essential for understanding the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the surrounding rocks in underground engineering.In this study,an improved temperature-dependent linear parallel bond model is introduced under the framework of a particle flow simulation.A series of numerical thermomechanical coupling tests are then conducted to calibrate the micro-parameters of the proposed model by considering the mechanical behavior of the rock under different thermomechanical loadings.Good agreement between the numerical results and experimental data are obtained,particularly in terms of the compression,tension,and elastic responses of granite.With this improved model,the thermodynamic response and underlying cracking behavior of a deep-buried tunnel under different thermal loading conditions are investigated and discussed in detail.

Study on disc cutter chipping of TBM based on field data and particle flow code simulation

Using tunnel boring machines to excavate high-strength intact rock masses is becoming more common.Due to the interactions between disc cutters and rocks,abnormal wear of disc cutters,especially cutter chipping,has become a common phenomenon.Existing research has mainly focused on normal wear of disc cutters without addressing abnormal wear cases.This study used the disc cutter consumption data of a tunnel project in China to investigate the abovementioned problem based on field research.According to the fail-ure patterns and fracture surface characteristics,the cutter chipping patterns were mainly categorized into four types:granule chipping,patch chipping,primary collapse,and secondary collapse.To further simulate the evolution of disc cutter chipping,based on the linear plastic bond model,a new contact model called the modified plastic bond(MPB)model was proposed to solve the metal simulation prob-lem in Particle Flow Code software.To this end,a set of uniaxial tensile and compressive tests were initially conducted to verify the applicability of the MPB model.Then,a series of three-dimensional rock-cutting simulation tests were conducted to reflect the evolu-tionary processes involved in each type of cutter chipping.The cutter chipping mechanism and morphological characteristics were clas-sified and summarized in detail.The results revealed that the cutting speed and penetration growth led to a rising trend in the probability and intensity of the cutter chipping.The presence of initial defects also induced an adverse effect on the service life of the cutter.The results indicated suitable working conditions for the cutter and suggested ways to control tunneling parameters and avoid frequent cutter chipping cases.

Simulation Study of Foundations Reinforced with Horizontal-Vertical Inclusions Using Particle Flow Code

A two-dimensionM discrete element code, particle flow code （PFC2D）, is employed to investigate foundations reinforced with horizontal-vertical （H-V） inclusions. The initial states and loading processes of both unreinforced and H-V reinforced foundations are simulated by PFC2D method. The interface between particles and reinforcements, and the reinforcement mechanism of the H-V reinforced foundations are studied through stress distribution graphs, displacement vector graphs and contact force graphs. The simulation results demonstrate that the vertical elements of the H-V reinforcement keep the particles from being displaced under the applied load. The H-V reinforcement can distribute the load uniformly over a wider area, thereby improving the bearing capacity of soil foundation.

Numerical simulation of flow field and residence time of nanoparticles in a 1000-ton industrial multi-jet combustion reactor

In this work,by establishing a three-dimensional physical model of a 1000-ton industrial multi-jet combustion reactor,a hexahedral structured grid was used to discretize the model.Combined with realizable k–εmodel,eddy-dissipation-concept,discrete-ordinate radiation model,hydrogen 19-step detailed reaction mechanism,air age user-defined-function,velocity field,temperature field,concentration field and gas arrival time in the reactor were numerically simulated.The Euler–Lagrange method combined with the discrete-phase-model was used to reveal the flow characteristics of particles in the reactor,and based on this,the effects of the reactor aspect ratios,central jet gas velocity and particle size on the flow field characteristics and particle back-mixing degree in the reactor were investigated.The results show that with the decrease of aspect ratio in the combustion reactors,the velocity and temperature attenuation in the reactor are intensified,the vortex phenomenon is aggravated,and the residence time distribution of nanoparticles is more dispersed.With the increase in the central jet gas velocities in reactors,the vortex lengthens along the axis,the turbulence intensity increases,and the residence time of particles decreases.The back-mixing degree and residence time of particles in the reactor also decrease with the increase in particle size.The simulation results can provide reference for the structural regulation of nanoparticles and the structural design of combustion reactor in the process of gas combustion synthesis.

Influence of mass air flow ratio on gas-particle flow characteristics of a swirl burner in a 29 MW pulverized coal boiler

In a gas/particle two-phase test facility, a three-component particle-dynamics anemometer was used to measure the characteristics of gas/particle two-phase flows in a 29 megawatt (MW) pulverized coal industrial boiler equipped with a new type of swirling pulverized coal burner. The distributions of three-dimensional gas/particle velocity, particle volume flux, and particle size distribution were measured under different working conditions. The mean axial velocity and the particle volume flux in the central region of the burner outlet were found to be negative. This indicated that a central recirculation zone was formed in the center of the burner. In the central recirculation zone, the absolute value of the mean axial velocity and the particle volume flux increased when the external secondary air volume increased. The size of the central reflux zone remained stable when the air volume ratio changed. Along the direction of the jet, the peak value formed by the tertiary air gradually moved toward the center of the burner. This tertiary air was mixed with the peak value formed by the air in the adiabatic combustion chamber after the cross-section of x/d = 0.7. Large particles were concentrated near the wall area, and the particle size in the recirculation zone was small.

Numerical Simulation of Gas-particle Flows with Different Swirl Numbers in a Swirl Burner

Swirl burner design was optimized by simulating swirl gas\|particle flows with different swirl numbers at the exit of a small\|scale swirl burner for pulverized\|coal furnaces using the k\|ε\|k p model. The predicted two\|phase time\|averaged velocities and particle concentration distributions for several different cases were compared to improve the design. The effect of the swirl number on the two\|phase velocities and particle concentration was investigated. The results give the two\|phase axial and tangential time\|averaged and fluctuation velocities and particle concentrations, showing that large recirculation zones of gas and particles forms in the near\|axis region of the burner exit, but the particle concentration in the recirculating zone is very low.

Impact of Inert Metal Particles Flow on Aluminium Plate

Inert metal explosive,a new kind of explosive,is a mixture of high explosive and inert metal particle.When this kind of explosive is detonated,an inert metal particle flow will be formed by the ex-plosive product driving.To determine the characteristics of the movement of the metal particle flow,a series of aluminium plates were designed to be the targets on which the metal particle flow impacted.The test result was presented and a numerical model was set up to analyze the impact of the high speed inert metal particles on aluminium plate.Based on the numerical analysis,the relationship between the characteristic of the mark on the target plate and the initial condition of the inert metal particles was pro-posed.From the analysis of the impact on target plates,more information about the movement of the metal particles could be reconstructed.

A numerical test method of California bearing ratio on graded crushed rocks using particle flow modeling

In order to better understand the mechanical properties of graded crushed rocks （GCRs） and to optimize the relevant design, a numerical test method based on the particle flow modeling technique PFC2D is developed for the California bearing ratio （CBR） test on GGRs. The effects of different testing conditions and micro-mechanical parameters used in the model on the CBR numerical results have been systematically studied. The reliability of the numerical technique is verified. The numerical results suggest that the influences of the loading rate and Poisson＇s ratio on the CBR numerical test results are not significant. As such, a loading rate of 1.0-3.0 mm/min, a piston diameter of 5 cm, a specimen height of 15 cm and a specimen diameter of 15 cm are adopted for the CBR numerical test. The numerical results reveal that the GBR values increase with the friction coefficient at the contact and shear modulus of the rocks, while the influence of Poisson＇s ratio on the GBR values is insignificant. The close agreement between the CBR numerical results and experimental results suggests that the numerical simulation of the CBR values is promising to help assess the mechanical properties of GGRs and to optimize the grading design. Be- sides, the numerical study can provide useful insights on the mesoscopic mechanism.

Cold Gas-particle Flows in a New Swirl Pulverized-coal Burner by PDPA Measurement

A new type of swirl burner has been developed to stabilize pulverized\|coal combustion by burning different types of coal at different loads and to reduce NO x formation during combustion. The burner uses a device to concentrate the coal powder in the primary\|air tube that divides the primary coal\|air into two streams with different pulverized\|coal concentrations. This paper reports the measurement of gas\|particle flows at the exit of the different swirl burners using a 3\|D Phase Doppler Particle Anemometer (PDPA). The effect of different geometrical configurations on the two\|phase flow field is studied. The results that give the two\|phase flow fields and particle concentrations show the superiority of the new swirl burner.

Flow behavior of non-spherical particle flowing in hopper

Ellipsoidal particles flowing in the hopper were simulated by using the discrete element method （DEM）, and described by the multi-element method. The contact detection algorithm and equations for ellipsoidal particle motion in hopper were developed. And the simulation results were confirmed by experiment. Additionally, the mass flow rate, pressure distribution and velocity distribu- tion of two kinds of particles were examined. The results show that the mass flow rate of ellipsoidal particles is smaller than that of spherical particles. There is a maximum value of pressure drop at the top of the junction. Besides, the pressure drop decreases with the discharging time increasing. The velocity of spherical particle is larger than that of ellipsoidal.