A three-dimensional discrete-grain model for the simulation of dam-break rectangular collapses: comparison between numerical results and experiments

Abstract

In this paper, we used a 3-D discrete-element model, Grains3D, which allows the simulation of unsteady granular flows of monodisperse soft spherical particles in a common situation (i.e., down a rectangular channel). A series of numerical dam-break experiments was performed to predict the behavior of granular columns that propagate down a rough horizontal surface from different initial conditions (varying the initial aspect ratio). Numerical results were compared to those obtained experimentally by Lajeunesse et al. (Phys Fluids 17:103302, 2005) from a similar configuration. Runout distance, temporal flow evolution, deposit morphology and internal flow structures of similar laboratory experiments were quantitatively reproduced as well as prediction of empirical and theoretical scaling laws. This paper highlights that such fully 3-D simulations of soft-spheres can remarkably capture dam-break collapses performed in a rectangular channel. Moreover, Grains3D can provide a complete physical description of such complex unsteady systems which will be the topic of future on-going studies.

Simulation of an Avalanche in a Fluid with a Soft-Sphere/Immersed Boundary Method Including a Lubrication Force

“…Assuming the ambient fluid plays no role in the dynamics, DEM methods have been shown to be an efficient tool to simulate this configuration [16][17][18].…”

The role of constitutive models in MPM simulations of granular column collapses

“…However, the authors commented on the necessity of investigating the influence of multi-sized particles. Girolami et al [13] used spheres rather than discs in their DEM simulation which gave better prediction of the experiments. Utili et al [40] used multi-sized particles which and gave better results when using an angle of repose closer to experimental values.…”

Continuum viscoplastic simulation of a granular column collapse on large slopes: μ(I) rheology and lateral wall effects

“…Discrete Element Methods have been able to reproduce more quantitatively the column spreading with well-chosen friction coefficient values (see the work of Lacaze and Kerswell 28 and Girolami et al 16 ) but often overestimate the runout distance observed experimentally (see the work of Staron and Hinch 51 and Lagrée et al 30 ). In addition, all these studies except Ionescu et al 24 focus on the collapse of a horizontal plane, and mostly on the reproduction of scaling laws, with little attention paid to the dynamics.…”

“…As a matter of fact, many numerical studies addressed the granular column released problem using typically three different approaches: shallow-type models (Mangeney-Castelnau et al, 35 Kerswell, 27 Larrieu et al, 32 and Doyle et al 12 ), Discrete Element Methods (DEM) (Staron and Hinch, 51 Zenit, 54 Lacaze et al, 29 and Girolami et al 16 ), and complete viscousplastic or elasto-plastic models (Crosta et al, 8 Lacaze and Kerswell, 28 Meruane et al, 40 Lagrée et al, 30 and Ionescu et al 24 ).…”