Numerical simulation of 2D granular flow entrainment using DEM

To understand the entrainment process in granular flow, numerical experiments have been conducted using a Discrete Element Method model. A flow channel of 8 m long with (15^circ ) slope is setup with monitoring points located in an erodible bed. Particles, ranging from 3 to 4 mm in diameters, are used in the simulations. In the simulations, translational, rotational and average velocities, total volume, shear stresses are calculated in the measurement circles. The sizes of the measurement circles have been varied to see their effects on the results. It is found the minimum size of the measurement circles should include 20–30 particles. An new analytical model has been developed to calculate entrainment in granular flow. Results of the numerical experiment are compared with analytical model. Shear stresses at the interface between flowing particles in motion and the immobile particles in the channel bed, change of depth of erosion and entrainment rate are used to verify the analytical model. It is found that the calculated shear stresses in the PFC model agree well with the shear stresses calculated using Mohr–Coulomb frictional relationship in the analytical model. The calculated depth of erosion using the new analytical model is also compared with that from dynamic and static entrainment model. The results indicates that the analytical model is able to capture the mechanism of erosion and it can be used in granular flow analysis.