Energy conversion and deposition behaviour in gravitational collapse of granular columns

The high-density gravitational collapse of granular columns is very similar to the movements of large collapsing columns in nature. Based on the development of dangerous columnar rock mass in fields, granular column collapse boundary condition in the physical experiments of this study is a new type of boundary conditions with a single free face and a three-dimensional deposit. Physical experiments have shown that the mobility of small particles during the collapse of granular columns was greater than that of large particles. For example, when particle size was increased from 5 to 15 mm, deposit runout was decreased by about 16.4%. When a column consisted of two particle types with different sizes, these particles could mix in the vicinity of layer interfaces and small particles might increase the mobility of large particles. In the process of collapse, potential and kinetic energy conversion rate is fluctuated. By increasing initial aspect ratio a, the ratio of the initial height of column to its length along flow direction,potential and kinetic energy conversion rate is decreased. For example, as a was increased from 0.5 to 4, the ratio of maximum kinetic energy obtained and total potential energy loss was decreased from47.6% to 7.4%. After movement stopped, an almost trapezoidal body remained in the column and a fanlike or fan-shaped accumulation was formed on the periphery of column. Using multiple exponential functions of the aspect ratio a, the planar morphology of the collapse deposit of granular columns could be quantitatively characterized. The movement of pillar dangerous rock masses with collapse failure mode could be evaluated using this granular column experimental results.

Consolidation of soft clay foundation improved by geosyntheticreinforced granular columns:Numerical evaluation

Soft clays are problematic soils as they present high compressibility and low shear strength.There are several methods for improving in situ conditions of soft clays.Based on the geotechnical problem’s geometry and characteristics,the in situ conditions may require reinforcement to restrain instability and construction settlements.Granular columns reinforced by geosynthetic material are widely used to reduce settlements of embankments on soft clays.They also accelerate the consolidation rate by reducing the drainage path’s length and increasing the foundation soil’s bearing capacity.In this study,the performance of encased and layered granular columns in soft clay is investigated and discussed.The numerical results show the significance of geosynthetic stiffness and the column length on the embankment settlements.Furthermore,the results show that granular columns may play an important role in dissipating the excess pore water pressures and accelerating the consolidation settlements of embankments on soft clays.

Channelized and unchannelized collapses of granular columns on a horizontal surface

Columnar dangerous rock mass is widely developed in many high and steep mountain areas around the world.It often collapses,disintegrates and produces debris flow,which is disastrous.The collapse process of the columnar dangerous rock mass is very similar to the collapse of granular column.In this paper,we report the results of an experimental investigation of the flow induced by the collapse of a column of granular material over a horizontal surface.Two different setups are used,namely,a channelized granular column collapse(i.e.,two-dimensional) and an unchannelized granular column collapse(i.e.,three-dimensional),allowing us to compare channelized and unchannelized collapses flows.The experimental data suggest that our experimental findings were markedly different from those reported by previous authors(i.e.,include the channelized and unchannelized collapse flows showed differences in energy conversion and dissipation).In channelized collapse flows,the maximum vertical speed appears in the free fall regime,while,the maximum speed in the vertical direction of unchannelized collapse flows appears in the spreading regime.During the whole collapse process,i.e.,in channelized and unchannelized collapse flows,the conversion of potential energy and kinetic energy does not occur uniformly,and the maximum kinetic energy of the channelized collapse flows is higher than that of the unchannelized collapse flows,and compared with the unchannelized collapse flows,the dissipation energy in the channelized collapse flows is lower.A series of experiments was performed to predict the behaviour of different granular columns(characterized by different initial aspect ratio(a),varying from 1 to 4).The data obtained from 2 D experimental model and3 D experimental model have certain amount of difference,such as the particle runout distance(d1),the maximum central height(h2),and the deposition angle(i.e.,β1,β2).These differences show that the 2 D experimental model does not fully represent the 3 D conditions(i.e.,the role of side-walls on the channelized collapse flows characteristic is nonnegligible).Accordingly,care must be taken when validating 3 D models with 2 D experimental data.The movement of the tower dangerous rock masses with collapse failure mode could be evaluated using this channelized and unchannelized granular column experimental results.

Pressure evolution in shock-compacted granular media

The pressure evolution associated with the transient shock-induced infiltration of gas flow through granular media consisting of mobile particles is numerically investigated using a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach.The coupling between shock compaction and interstitial flow has been revealed.A distinctive two-stage diffusing pressure field with deflection occurring at the tail of the compaction front is found,with corresponding spikes in both gaseous velocity and temperature profiles emerging within the width of the compaction front.The compaction front,together with the deflection pressure,reaches a steady state during the later period.An analytical prediction of the steady deflection pressure that considers the contributions of porosity and the non-isothermal effect is proposed.The isothermal single-phase method we developed,combining the porosity jump condition across the compaction front,shows consistent pressure evolution with the non-isothermal CMP-PIC one under weak shock strength and low column permeability.Lastly,the microscale mechanism governing the formation of not only pressure deflection but also gaseous velocity and temperature spikes within the width of the compaction front has been described.These aforementioned evolutions of the flow field are shown to arise from the nozzling effects associated with the particle-scale variations in the volume fraction.

Mechanics of granular column collapse in fluid at varying slope angles

This paper investigates the effect of initial volume fraction on the runout characteristics of collapse of granular columns on slopes in fluid. 2-D sub-grain scale numerical simulations are performed to understand the flow dynamics of granular collapse in fluid. The discrete element method（DEM） technique is coupled with the lattice Boltzmann method（LBM）, for fluid-grain interactions, to understand the evolution of submerged granular flows. The fluid phase is simulated using multiple-relaxation-time LBM（LBM-MRT） for numerical stability. In order to simulate interconnected pore space in 2-D, a reduction in the radius of the grains（hydrodynamic radius） is assumed during LBM computations. The collapse of granular column in fluid is compared with the dry cases to understand the effect of fluid on the runout behaviour. A parametric analysis is performed to assess the influence of the granular characteristics（initial packing） on the evolution of flow and run-out distances for slope angles of 0 °, 2.5°, 5 ° and 7.5 °. The granular flow dynamics is investigated by analysing the effect of hydroplaning, water entrainment and viscous drag on the granular mass. The mechanism of energy dissipation, shape of the flow front, water entrainment and evolution of packing density is used to explain the difference in the flow characteristics of loose and dense granular column collapse in fluid.