A Multi-field Coupling Method for the Computation of Slurry Infiltration in Saturated Sand

This paper proposes a new computational method for the analysis of the slurry infiltration process in saturated sand with special attention to the coupling relationship between the soil deformation, slurry seepage, and particle dispersion. The Biot consolidation theory for saturated sand in 3D with the mass conservation law for particle transport of slurry infiltration is used to solve the problem. First of all, the fluid continuity equation in Biot theory is modified by adding the particle dispersion term. Next, the particle dispersion equation coupled with seepage velocity is derived according to the particle mass conservation law, which highlights the dynamic properties of the suspended particles’ transport and deposition. On this basis, non-linear governing equations for slurry infiltration coupling soil deformation, slurry seepage and particle dispersion are derived and the corresponding variational principles based on time increments are established. A finite element method, based on the variational principles, is employed to solve the problem. The finite element equations are solved with an iterative technique. Computational results are validated with the data from a one-dimensional model test. The particle deposition coefficient is determined by the calculation. The results are also compared with those from the traditional method proposed by Herzig, which only considers the particle convection and dispersion but ignores the deformation effect of the medium and the pressure drop in the vadose zone, and found that this method is much better than the traditional Herzig method in predicting the particle deposition. Finally, the slurry infiltration in slurry trench is calculated with the proposed method, the results are found to be reasonable and practical in the viewpoint of engineering experience.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFS20 Standing Committee on Geotechnical Instrumentation and Modeling.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Xu, Sihui
    • Wu, Di
    • He, Chao
    • Shan, Yao
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2017

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: 44p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01628094
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 17-00584
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Mar 7 2017 10:25AM