Discrete element numerical simulation on the accumulation of wave-induced excess pore pressure in silty seabed sediments

Abstract

Marine geological disasters, such as seabed liquefactions, submarine landslides, debris flows and turbidity currents, are all closely related to the accumulation of wave-induced excess pore pressure in the seabed. Due to the limitations of physical model experiment and in-situ observations, numerical analysis has become an important method to explore the microscopic mechanism of the accumulation of excess pore pressure. Based on the discrete element porous density flow method, we simulated the changing process of excess pore pressure in seabed sediment in this study, comparing with laboratory flume experiment. The simulation results reproduce the changing process of excess pore pressure in the laboratory flume experiment. The excess pore pressure occurs in the surface of seabed and gradually transfers to the deep layer, tending to a stable value. Thus, the discrete element porous density flow method is well suitable for simulating the accumulation of wave-induced excess pore pressure. Furthermore, the method constitutes a promising tool to study the microscopic mechanism of seabed liquefaction.