Predicting Incipient Fluidization of Fine Sands in Unbounded Domains

by Gerard P. Lennon, Lehigh Univ, Bethlehem, United States,
Kimberly A. Kopaskie, Lehigh Univ, Bethlehem, United States,
Richard N. Weisman, Lehigh Univ, Bethlehem, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Symposium on Ground Water

Abstract:

Fluidization systems in the coastal environment consist of a water pumping system and a source pipe buried in or near a tidal inlet to maintain a channel or to aid in sand bypassing. If a sufficient flow rate is forced from small holes in the source pipe, the water will fluidize a strip of sand overlying the pipe. Using Darcy's law and the continuity equation with appropriate boundary conditions allows solution of the hydraulic head in the domain using the finite element method. A slightly higher head requirement was predicted using quadratic finite elements as compared to previous predictions using linear triangular finite elements. The predicted incipient flow rate is virtually the same for both element types.

Subject Headings: Finite element method | Fluid mechanics | Sand (hydraulic) | Soil water | Inlets (waterway) | Fluid flow | Water pipelines

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