Experimental investigations of soil fluidization by an upward water leak jet

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, a fluidized granular sand bed by a vertically upward water leak jet was studied experimentally. It was found that an increase in the size of sand particles decreases the height of the fluidized zone, and vice versa. By increasing the cover depth, the height and area of the fluidized and mobilized bed zones are reduced. Dimensions of the fluidized zone increase as the pressure increases. As the pressure inside the pipe increases 5-fold, the relative area of the fluidized zone increases approximately 3.5-fold, and the relative height increases 12-fold. By increasing ratio of the cover depth to mean particle size, the relative area and relative height of fluidization increases. New equations were obtained to determine the relative area and the relative height of the fluidized zone.