Assessment of Lost Circulation Material Particle-Size Distribution on Fracture Sealing: A Numerical Study

Summary Lost circulation materials (LCMs) are essential to combat fluid loss while drilling and may put the whole operation at risk if a proper LCM design is not used. The focus of this research is understanding the function of LCMs in sealing fractures to reduce fluid loss. One important consideration in the success of fracture sealing is the particle-size distribution (PSD) of LCMs. Various studies have suggested different guidelines for obtaining the best size distribution of LCMs for effective fracture sealing based on limited laboratory experiments or field observations. Hence, there is a need for sophisticated numerical methods to improve the LCM design by providing some predictive capabilities. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element methods (DEM) numerical simulations are coupled to investigate the influence of PSD of granular LCMs on fracture sealing. Dimensionless variables were introduced to compare cases with different PSDs. We validated the CFD-DEM model in reproducing specific laboratory observations of fracture-sealing experiments within the model boundary parameters. Our simulations suggested that a bimodally distributed blend would be the most effective design in comparison to other PSDs tested here.

A Discrete Element Methods-Based Model for Particulate Deposition and Rebound in Gas Turbines

The secondary air system and cooling passages of gas turbine components are prone to blockage from sand and dust. Prediction of deposition requires accurate models of particle transport and thermo-mechanical interaction with walls. Bounce stick models predict whether a particle will bounce, stick, or shatter upon impact and calculate rebound trajectories if applicable. This paper proposes an explicit bounce stick model that uses analytical solutions of adhesion, plastic deformation and viscoelasticity to time-resolve collision physics. The Discrete-Element Methods (DEM) model shows good agreement when compared to experimental studies of micron and millimetre-scale particle collisions, requiring minimal parametric fitting. Non-physical values mechanical properties, artifices of previous models, are thus eliminated. Further comparison is made to the best resolved and industry standard semi-empirical models available in literature. In addition to coefficients of restitution, other variables crucial to accurately model rebound, for example angular velocity, are predicted. The time-stepping explicit approach allows full coupling between internal processes during contact, and shows that particle deformation and hence viscoelasticity play a significant role in adhesion. Modelling time-dependent internal variables such as wall-normal force create functionality for future modelling of arbitrarily shaped particles, the physics of which has been shown by previous work to differ significantly from that of spheres. To date these effects have not been captured well using by higher-level energy-based models.

A kinematics-based model for the settling of gravity-driven arbitrary-shaped particles on a surface

A discrete model is proposed for settling of an arbitrary-shaped particle onto a flat surface under the gravitational field. In this method, the particle dynamics is calculated such that (a) the particle does not create an overlap with the wall and (b) reaches a realistic equilibrium state, which are not guaranteed in the conventional discrete element methods that add a repulsive force (torque) based on the amount of overlap between the particle and the wall. Instead, upon the detection of collision, the particle’s kinematics is modified depending on the type of contact, i.e., point, line, and surface types, by assuming the contact point/line as the instantaneous center/line of rotation for calculating the rigid body dynamics. Two different stability conditions are implemented by comparing the location of the projection of the center of mass on the wall along gravity direction against the contact points to identify the equilibrium (stable) state on the wall for particles with multiple contact points. A variety of simulations are presented, including smooth surface particles (ellipsoids), regular particles with sharp edges (cylinders and pyramids) and irregular-shaped particles, to show that the method can provide the analytically-known equilibrium state.

Flow and Particle Modelling of Dry Powder Inhalers: Methodologies, Recent Development and Emerging Applications

Dry powder inhaler (DPI) is a device used to deliver a drug in dry powder form to the lungs. A wide range of DPI products is currently available, with the choice of DPI device largely depending on the dose, dosing frequency and powder properties of formulations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), together with various particle motion modelling tools, such as discrete particle methods (DPM) and discrete element methods (DEM), have been increasingly used to optimise DPI design by revealing the details of flow patterns, particle trajectories, de-agglomerations and depositions within the device and the delivery paths. This review article focuses on the development of the modelling methodologies of flow and particle behaviours in DPI devices and their applications to device design in several emerging fields. Various modelling methods, including the most recent multi-scale approaches, are covered and the latest simulation studies of different devices are summarised and critically assessed. The potential and effectiveness of the modelling tools in optimising designs of emerging DPI devices are specifically discussed, such as those with the features of high-dose, pediatric patient compatibility and independency of patients’ inhalation manoeuvres. Lastly, we summarise the challenges that remain to be addressed in DPI-related fluid and particle modelling and provide our thoughts on future research direction in this field.

Dynamic analysis of autonomous risk avoidance of amphibious floating bridge based on discrete element method and physical engine

In this paper, based on an intelligent floating bridge, by using discrete element methods and physical engines, under the action of certain missile repulsion fields, the force process and motion path in the process of autonomous evasion of missiles are studied. Firstly, the static simulation of missile repulsion fields is carried out by using the polynomial least square surface fitting method. According to the strength of repulsion field at different times and the extrusion force between the pontoons, the kinematic equation of the pontoon is established. The equation is discretised by using a discrete element method, and the kinematic equation is obtained according to the time iteration. Then, motion analysis is carried out by using a physical engine on the basis of equation Analysis. Finally, the position parameters before and after the self-evasion missile of the floating bridge are calculated, and the simulation program is written in MATLAB. The dynamic simulation experiment of the whole evasion missile process is carried out, and the results are satisfactory.

Coupled finite and discrete element shot peening simulation based on Johnson–Cook material model

Shot peening is an essential treatment that produces a beneficial compressive layer on the material’s surface, which significantly improves its fatigue life. To minimizes the cost and resources used in determining the finest shot peening parameters based on the experimental approach, a numerical model capable of computing the induced compressive residual stress accurately is required. Hence, the numerical simulation of the shot peening process with multiple random shots that depict the actual shot peening is presented in this paper. The model is developed using the coupled finite and discrete element methods. The two numerical tools were coupled via code in ABAQUS, whereby shot–shot and shot–target interaction behaviors were accurately included. The induced compressive residual stress was computed due to the multiple random shots impact based on the Johnson–Cook material model. The model was experimentally validated and applied to evaluated the influence of shot velocity, shot size, and angle of impact on the final compressive residual stress.