Multiphase SPH modeling of free surface flow in porous media with variable porosity

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical model for simulating free surface flow in porous media with spatially varying porosity. The governing equations are based on the mixture theory. The resistance forces between solid and fluid is assumed to be nonlinear. A multiphase SPH approach is presented to solve the governing equations. In the multiphase SPH, water is modeled as a weakly compressible fluid, and solid phase is discretized by fixed solid particles carrying information of porosity. The model is validated by several numerical examples including seepage through specimen, fast flow through rockfill dam and wave interaction with porous structure. Good agreements between numerical results and experimental data are obtained in terms of flow rate and evolution of free surface. Parameter study shows that (1) the nonlinear resistance law provides more accurate results; (2) particle size and porosity have significant influence on the porous flow.