Realistic representation of grain shapes in CFD–DEM simulations of sediment transport with a bonded-sphere approach

• Published in: Advances in water resources Vol. 107; pp. 421 - 438
• Main Authors: Sun, Rui, Xiao, Heng, Sun, Honglei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Algorithms; CFD–DEM; Coastal dynamics; coasts; Cohesionless sediments; Cohesive sediments; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer applications; Computer simulation; Computing time; Discrete element method; Dynamics; Flexibility; Flocculation; Fluid dynamics; Fluids; Forces (mechanics); Hydrodynamics; Incipient motion; Interactions; Irregular particles; Mathematical models; Multiphase flow; Numerical simulations; prediction; Predictions; Representations; Sediment transport; Sedimentation; Sediments; Solvers; Spheres; Studies; Terminal velocity; Transport; Transport processes; water resources; Irregular particles; CFD–DEM; Multiphase flow; Sediment transport

•A simple algorithm is proposed to discretize the common sediment-grain shapes.•The discretization algorithm is adequate to reproduce particle-shape properties.•The algorithm is capable of capturing integral sediment transport quantities. Development of algorithms and growth of computational resourc...