NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF UNSTEADY-STATE UNDEREXPANDED JET USING DISCONTINUOUS GALERKIN FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

A discontinuous Galerkin finite element method （DG-FEM） is developed for solving the axisymmetric Euler equations based on two-dimensional conservation laws. The method is used to simulate the unsteady-state underexpanded axisymmetric jet. Several flow property distributions along the jet axis, including density, pres- sure and Mach number are obtained and the qualitative flowfield structures of interest are well captured using the proposed method, including shock waves, slipstreams, traveling vortex ring and multiple Mach disks. Two Mach disk locations agree well with computational and experimental measurement results. It indicates that the method is robust and efficient for solving the unsteady-state underexpanded axisymmetric jet.

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF TOROIDAL SHOCK WAVES FOCUSING USING DISCONTINUOUS GALERKIN FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

A numerical simulation of the toroidal shock wave focusing in a co-axial cylindrical shock tube is inves- tigated by using discontinuous Galerkin （DG） finite element method to solve the axisymmetric Euler equations. For validating the numerical method, the shock-tube problem with exact solution is computed, and the computed results agree well with the exact cases. Then, several cases with higher incident Mach numbers varying from 2.0 to 5.0 are simulated. Simulation results show that complicated flow-field structures of toroidal shock wave diffraction, reflection, and focusing in a co-axial cylindrical shock tube can be obtained at different incident Mach numbers and the numerical solutions appear steep gradients near the focusing point, which illustrates the DG method has higher accuracy and better resolution near the discontinuous point. Moreover, the focusing peak pres- sure with different grid scales is compared.

Adaptive discontinuous finite element quadrature sets over an icosahedron for discrete ordinates method

The discrete ordinates(S N)method requires numerous angular unknowns to achieve the desired accu-racy for shielding calculations involving strong anisotropy.Our objective is to develop an angular adaptive algorithm in the S N method to automatically optimize the angular distribution and minimize angular discretization errors with lower expenses.The proposed method enables linear dis-continuous finite element quadrature sets over an icosahe-dron to vary their quadrature orders in a one-twentieth sphere so that fine resolutions can be applied to the angular domains that are important.An error estimation that operates in conjunction with the spherical harmonics method is developed to determine the locations where more refinement is required.The adaptive quadrature sets are applied to three duct problems,including the Kobayashi benchmarks and the IRI-TUB research reactor,which emphasize the ability of this method to resolve neutron streaming through ducts with voids.The results indicate that the performance of the adaptive method is more effi-cient than that of uniform quadrature sets for duct transport problems.Our adaptive method offers an appropriate placement of angular unknowns to accurately integrate angular fluxes while reducing the computational costs in terms of unknowns and run times.

A Sub-element Adaptive Shock Capturing Approach for Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

In this paper,a new strategy for a sub-element-based shock capturing for discontinuous Galerkin(DG)approximations is presented.The idea is to interpret a DG element as a col-lection of data and construct a hierarchy of low-to-high-order discretizations on this set of data,including a first-order finite volume scheme up to the full-order DG scheme.The dif-ferent DG discretizations are then blended according to sub-element troubled cell indicators,resulting in a final discretization that adaptively blends from low to high order within a single DG element.The goal is to retain as much high-order accuracy as possible,even in simula-tions with very strong shocks,as,e.g.,presented in the Sedov test.The framework retains the locality of the standard DG scheme and is hence well suited for a combination with adaptive mesh refinement and parallel computing.The numerical tests demonstrate the sub-element adaptive behavior of the new shock capturing approach and its high accuracy.

Mixed time discontinuous space-time finite element method for convection diffusion equations

A mixed time discontinuous space-time finite element scheme for secondorder convection diffusion problems is constructed and analyzed. Order of the equation is lowered by the mixed finite element method. The low order equation is discretized with a space-time finite element method, continuous in space but discontinuous in time. Stability, existence, uniqueness and convergence of the approximate solutions are proved. Numerical results are presented to illustrate efficiency of the proposed method.

Optimizing Bucket Elevator Performance through a Blend of Discrete Element Method, Response Surface Methodology, and Firefly Algorithm Approaches

This research introduces a novel approach to enhancing bucket elevator design and operation through the integration of discrete element method(DEM)simulation,design of experiments(DOE),and metaheuristic optimization algorithms.Specifically,the study employs the firefly algorithm(FA),a metaheuristic optimization technique,to optimize bucket elevator parameters for maximizing transport mass and mass flow rate discharge of granular materials under specified working conditions.The experimental methodology involves several key steps:screening experiments to identify significant factors affecting bucket elevator operation,central composite design(CCD)experiments to further explore these factors,and response surface methodology(RSM)to create predictive models for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge.The FA algorithm is then applied to optimize these models,and the results are validated through simulation and empirical experiments.The study validates the optimized parameters through simulation and empirical experiments,comparing results with DEM simulation.The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the FA algorithm in identifying optimal bucket parameters,showcasing less than 10%and 15%deviation for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge,respectively,between predicted and actual values.Overall,this research provides insights into the critical factors influencing bucket elevator operation and offers a systematic methodology for optimizing bucket parameters,contributing to more efficient material handling in various industrial applications.

基于CFD-DEM耦合的梯级溜槽的设计与分析

针对传统物料转运过程中溜槽和输送带磨损严重、出口处粉尘浓度过高的问题,建立含臂架的梯级溜槽几何模型,采用基于计算流体力学与离散单元法(CFD-DEM)耦合的数值模拟方法,分析了臂架对转运溜槽的磨损以及对其出口处粉尘排放浓度的影响。仿真结果表明:含臂架的梯级溜槽可以有效控制物料流的速度和方向,降低对溜槽内表面的冲击磨损,降低出口处的粉尘量。

Influence of heterogeneity on rock strength and stiffness using discrete element method and parallel bond model

The particulate discrete element method(DEM) can be employed to capture the response of rock,provided that appropriate bonding models are used to cement the particles to each other.Simulations of laboratory tests are important to establish the extent to which those models can capture realistic rock behaviors.Hitherto the focus in such comparison studies has either been on homogeneous specimens or use of two-dimensional(2D) models.In situ rock formations are often heterogeneous,thus exploring the ability of this type of models to capture heterogeneous material behavior is important to facilitate their use in design analysis.In situ stress states are basically three-dimensional(3D),and therefore it is important to develop 3D models for this purpose.This paper revisits an earlier experimental study on heterogeneous specimens,of which the relative proportions of weaker material(siltstone) and stronger,harder material(sandstone) were varied in a controlled manner.Using a 3D DEM model with the parallel bond model,virtual heterogeneous specimens were created.The overall responses in terms of variations in strength and stiffness with different percentages of weaker material(siltstone) were shown to agree with the experimental observations.There was also a good qualitative agreement in the failure patterns observed in the experiments and the simulations,suggesting that the DEM data enabled analysis of the initiation of localizations and micro fractures in the specimens.

Validation and application of three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis with tetrahedron finite element meshed block

In the last decade, three dimensional discontin- uous deformation analyses （3D DDA） has attracted more and more attention of researchers and geotechnical engineers worldwide. The original DDA formulation utilizes a linear displacement function to describe the block movement and deformation, which would cause block expansion under rigid body rotation and thus limit its capability to model block de- formation. In this paper, 3D DDA is coupled with tetrahe- dron finite elements to tackle these two problems. Tetrahe- dron is the simplest in the 3D domain and makes it easy to implement automatic discretization, even for complex topol- ogy shape. Furthermore, element faces will remain planar and element edges will remain straight after deformation for tetrahedron finite elements and polyhedral contact detection schemes can be used directly. The matrices of equilibrium equations for this coupled method are given in detail and an effective contact searching algorithm is suggested. Valida- tion is conducted by comparing the results of the proposed coupled method with that of physical model tests using one of the most common failure modes, i.e., wedge failure. Most of the failure modes predicted by the coupled method agree with the physical model results except for 4 cases out of the total 65 cases. Finally, a complex rockslide example demon- strates the robustness and versatility of the coupled method.

New Method to Measure the Fill Level of the Ball Mill I——Theoretical Analysis and DEM Simulation

The accurate measurement of the fill level in the ball mill has not been resolved because of the interplay of many variable factors, which led the mill to be operated under the uneconomical condition and lost a lot of energy. At present, some methods, such as vibration method and acoustic method, have been applied for measuring the fill level by the researchers. Aiming at the problem of the traditional methods for measuring the fill level, that is, the feature variables of the fill level suffer the influences of the ball load and the water content of the coal, a novel method to measure the fill level is proposed and a possible relation between the fill level and the angular position of the maximum vibration point on the mill shell is investigated. The angular positions of the maximum vibration point on the mill shell for different fill level cases are calculated theoretically under two assumptions, respectively. Meanwhile the charge motions of the mill for different fill level cases are simulated with the discrete element method （DEM）. And the simulation results are verified by comparing the motion trajectories of steel balls and power draft of the mill. The simulated movement trajectories of the outmost layer steel balls in the mill are monitored and analyzed to obtain the angular positions of the maximum vibration point on the mill shell. Both the results of the theoretical calculation and the 3D DEM simulation show that the position of the maximum vibration point on the mill shell moves to a lower angular positions as the fill level decreasing, which provides a new idea for measuring the filllevel accurately.

A review of methods,applications and limitations for incorporating fluid flow in the discrete element method

The past decade has witnessed the substantial growth in research interests and progress on the subject of coupled hydro-mechanical processes in rocks and soils,driven mainly by the surge of research in unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs and associated hazards.Many coupling techniques have been developed to include the effects of fluid flow in the discrete element method(DEM),and the techniques have been applied to a variety of geomechanical problems.Although these coupling methods have been successfully applied in various engineering fields,no single fluid/DEM coupling method is universal due to the complexity of engineering problems and the limitations of the numerical methods.For researchers and engineers,the key to solve a specific problem is to select the most appropriate fluid/DEM coupling method among these modeling technologies.The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive review of fluid flow/DEM coupling methods and relevant research.Given their importance,the availability or unavailability of best practice guidelines is outlined.The theoretical background and current status of DEM are introduced first,and the principles,applications,and advantages and disadvantages of different fluid flow/DEM coupling methods are discussed.Finally,a summary with speculation on future development trends is given.

Study on the particle breakage of ballast based on a GPU accelerated discrete element method

Breakage of particles will have greatly influence on mechanical behavior of granular material(GM)under external loads,such as ballast,rockfill and sand.The discrete element method(DEM)is one of the most popular methods for simulating GM as each particle is represented on its own.To study breakage mechanism of particle breakage,a cohesive contact mode is developed based on the GPU accelerated DEM code-Blaze-DEM.A database of the 3D geometry model of rock blocks is established based on the 3D scanning method.And an agglomerate describing the rock block with a series of non-overlapping spherical particles is used to build the DEM numerical model of a railway ballast sample,which is used to the DEM oedometric test to study the particles’breakage characteristics of the sample under external load.Furthermore,to obtain the meso-mechanical parameters used in DEM,a black-analysis method is used based on the laboratory tests of the rock sample.Based on the DEM numerical tests,the particle breakage process and mechanisms of the railway ballast are studied.All results show that the developed code can better used for large scale simulation of the particle breakage analysis of granular material.

The discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin method for one-dimensional compressible Euler equations in the Lagrangian coordinate

In this paper, a Petrov-Galerkin scheme named the Runge-Kutta control volume （RKCV） discontinuous finite ele- ment method is constructed to solve the one-dimensional compressible Euler equations in the Lagrangian coordinate. Its advantages include preservation of the local conservation and a high resolution. Compared with the Runge-Kutta discon- tinuous Galerkin （RKDG） method, the RKCV method is easier to implement. Moreover, the advantages of the RKCV and the Lagrangian methods are combined in the new method. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the accuracy and the reliability of the algorithm.

Discontinuous element pressure gradient stabilizations for compressible Navier-Stokes equations based on local projections

A pressure gradient discontinuous finite element formulation for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations is derived based on local projections. The resulting finite element formulation is stable and uniquely solvable without requiring a B-B stability condition. An error estimate is Obtained.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF SOIL PLUG INSIDE SUCTION FOUNDATIONS DURING SUCTION PENETRATION BY DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD

The phenomenon of the soil plug usually rising inside the suction foundations during suction penetration was quantitatively described and predicted. The formation process of the soil plug was simulated and calculated by DEM （discrete element method） model. The seepage flow, the self-weight of soil, the friction on the chamber wall as well as the suction inside the chamber are considered as the main external forces in the process. The results are compared with a set of laboratory model tests performed by using three soil types （sand, silty clay and clay） in the Bohai Sea area. The heights of soil plug from numerical estimations are lower than those from model test results, mainly because the suction pressure and friction resistance are applied in an ideal way under the numerical simulation.

A new method to simulate irregular particles by discrete element method

Granular materials are ubiquitous in nature and important in various applications such as road and railway engineering. Granular materials exhibit complicated mechanical behaviors, which are affected significantly by the irregular shape of particles. Currently, the discrete element method (DEM) has been accepted as an effective approach to investigate the mechanical behaviors of granular materials. However, there are scarce simulations based on DEM in literatures considering the irregularity of particle shape. A new method is proposed to simulate individual real particle with irregular shape using clump constituted by overlapping spheres. First, the geometric model of real particle with surface nodes and inner nodes is established through digitally processing the computerized tomography (CT) scanning data. Second, a clump consisting of spheres is generated to simulate the real particle using a minimum distance criterion. The criterion is implemented by tree optimization algorithm. Influential factors are also introduced to balance the model accuracy and computing cost. Effects of the influential factors, including the density of geometric grid and the minimum distance, on simulations are discussed. Results show that this new method is simpler and more efficient than the previous methods in terms of the model accuracy and computing cost.

Applicability of discrete element method with spherical and clumped particles for constitutive study of granular materials

Discrete element method(DEM)has been intensively used to study the constitutive behaviour of granular materials.However,to what extent a real granular material can be reproduced by virtual DEM simulations remains unclear.This study attempts to answer this question by comparing DEM simulations with typical features of experimental granular materials.Three groups of models with spherical and clumped particles are investigated from four perspectives:(i)deviatoric stress and volumetric behaviour;(ii)critical state behaviour;(iii)stress-dilatancy relationship;and(iv)the evolution of principal stress ratio against axial strain.The results demonstrate that DEM with spherical or clumped particles is capable of qualitatively describing macroscopic deviatoric stress responses,volumetric behaviour,and critical state behaviour observed in experiments for granular materials.On the other hand,some qualitative deviations between experiments and the investigated DEM simulations are also observed,in terms of the stress-dilatancy behaviour and principal stress ratio against axial strain,which are proven to be critical for constitutive modelling.The results demonstrate that DEM with spherical or clumped particles may not necessarily fully capture experimental features of granular materials even from a qualitative perspective.It is thus encouraged to thoroughly validate DEM with experiments when developing constitutive models based on DEM observations.

Comparison of undrained behaviors of granular media using fluidcoupled discrete element method and constant volume method

The fluid-coupled discrete element method(DEM)and the constant volume method as two types of discrete modeling methods for fundamental study of undrained responses of granular materials,have been discussed by many researchers.The fluid-coupled DEM,which couples the motions of discrete particles with pore fluid movements,is theoretically robust although it requires a large amount of computation time.As a substitution for the complex fluid-coupled DEM,the constant volume method simulates an undrained condition for a saturated granular material by simply preserving the total volume of a granular assembly without considering interactions between fluids and particles;hence,the validity of its results is questionable.In this paper,the undrained behaviors of granular assemblies simulated using the aforementioned two methods are compared.Based on a comparison of both macroscopic and microscopic responses given by the two methods,it is demonstrated that the constant volume method may reasonably simulate the responses of a loose saturated granular material with very coarse grains,which has a high permeability,and thus a rapid pore pressure equalization.However,it is ineffective in simulating the responses of a loose material with fine components due to its failure to capture the process of a slow dissipation of the excess pore pressure among the individual pores.With regard to the dense material adopted,similar behaviors at the early and intermediate shearing stages given by the two methods are displayed.

An MPI parallel DEM-IMB-LBM framework for simulating fluid-solid interaction problems

The high-resolution DEM-IMB-LBM model can accurately describe pore-scale fluid-solid interactions,but its potential for use in geotechnical engineering analysis has not been fully unleashed due to its prohibitive computational costs.To overcome this limitation,a message passing interface(MPI)parallel DEM-IMB-LBM framework is proposed aimed at enhancing computation efficiency.This framework utilises a static domain decomposition scheme,with the entire computation domain being decomposed into multiple subdomains according to predefined processors.A detailed parallel strategy is employed for both contact detection and hydrodynamic force calculation.In particular,a particle ID re-numbering scheme is proposed to handle particle transitions across sub-domain interfaces.Two benchmarks are conducted to validate the accuracy and overall performance of the proposed framework.Subsequently,the framework is applied to simulate scenarios involving multi-particle sedimentation and submarine landslides.The numerical examples effectively demonstrate the robustness and applicability of the MPI parallel DEM-IMB-LBM framework.

ANALYSIS OF MICROWAVE N-PORT NETWORK BY A MODIFIED BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD

A new approach based on resonance technique and modified boundary ele-ment method is presented to calculate the impedance parameter matrix of a microwaveN-port network of waveguide structure.A two port network is taken as a numerical ex-ample and the results show that the approach occupys the advantages of high accuracyand less computation effort.