Numerical simulation of solid particle behaviors in fluid flow by using a numerical method coupling technique

Abstract

In rock engineering, the behavior of solid particles in a fluid flow has become an important topic. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a numerical simulation method based on the micro-mechanics of the fluid-solid interaction that couples the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) and the discrete element method (DEM). LBM is known to be a suitable technique for simulating fluid flow in complex and time-varying geometries with boundaries. DEM has attracted much attention among rock engineers as a useful simulation technique for large deformation problems. With the coupling of both methods, the complex motions of solid particles in a fluid flow can be simulated. To verify this, the sedimentation behavior of a single circular particle is simulated in a fluid with different Reynolds numbers, and the results are compared with FEM. In addition, the drafting, kissing, and tumbling (DKT) phenomenon between two particles in a fluid is modeled and reasonable results are obtained. The results of these case studies suggest that the method of coupling LBM and DEM can be an effective technique for simulating many kinds of engineering problems.