Water and mud inrush dynamics process simulation by using coarse-grained CFD-DEM method

Abstract

Water and mud inrush disaster is a typical fluid-solid coupling problem, and its forecasting and prevention can reduce human and economic losses. In this work, a coarse-grained discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics model based on bonded particles is employed to investigate an inrush disaster happened in Foshan Metro Line 2. It's shown that the current model can simulate beam bending, and the differences from the analytical solution are 7% and 5% in deflection and maximum axial stress. This study also suggests that two-way coupling is in superior agreement with field observation than one-way coupling. The water pressure is highly influential as it increases from 0.15 MPa, 0.25 MPa, 0.35 MPa to 0.45 MPa inrush occurrence time varies from 28.0 s, 11.5 s, 7.5 s to 5.0 s, respectively. The current model is capable of simulating water and mud inrush, and may provide a framework for investigating this disaster in complex engineering scenarios.