Lattice Boltzmann Numerical Study on Mesoscopic Seepage Characteristics of Soil–Rock Mixture Considering Size Effect

Abstract

One of the hot topics in the study of rock and soil hydraulics is the size effect of a soil–rock mixture’s (SRM) seepage characteristics. The seepage process of the SRM was simulated from the pore scale through the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) in this paper to explore the internal influence mechanism of sample size effect on the SRM seepage characteristics. SRM samples were generated using the improved Monte Carlo method (IMCM), and through 342 simulation test conditions the influence of size feature parameters such as resolution (R), segmentation type, model feature size (S), feature length ratio (F), and soil/rock particle size feature ratio (P) was examined. The study demonstrated that as R increases, the permeability of the SRM gradually rises and tends to stabilize when R reaches 60 ppi. At the same S, the dispersion degree of model permeability obtained by the four segmentation types is in the order of center < random < equal < top. With an increase in S, the permeability (k) of the SRM gradually decreases, conforming to the dimensionless mathematical model, k=a0·S−b0, and tends to stabilize at S = 80 mm. With an increase in F and an increase in S, the permeability of the SRM exhibits a linear “zonal” distribution that declines in order. When F is greater than 12, the dispersion of the permeability value distribution is especially small. With an increase in P, the permeability of the SRM decreases gradually before rising abruptly. P is crucial for the grading and structural makeup of the SRM. Overall, this paper concludes that the conditions of R = 60 ppi, center segmentation type, S = 80 mm, F ≥ 12, and P set by demand can be used to select and generate the size of the SRM optimal representative elementary volume (REV) numerical calculation model. The SRM can serve as a general reference for test and engineering construction as a common geotechnical engineering material.