Nonconventional granular material flow modeling

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Granular material can switch its behavior from solid-like (able to support quasi-static shear loads) to liquid-like (it can flow in a dense state). This research aims to

Develop and validate physics-based constitutive laws for biomass granular flow behavior;
Model biomass granular flow and utilize simulation results to control unit operation conditions and optimize equipment design.

Ikbarieh, A., Jin, W., Zhao, Y., Saha, N., Klinger, J. L., Xia, Y., & Dai, S. (2025). Machine Learning Assisted Cross-Scale Hopper Design for Flowing Biomass Granular Materials. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 13(16), 5838-5851.
Zhao, Y., Jin, W., Ikbarieh, A., Klinger, J. L., Saha, N., Dayton, D. C., & Dai, S. (2024). SPH Modeling of Biomass Granular Flow: Engineering Application in Hoppers and Augers. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 12(10), 4213-4223.
Lu, Y., Jin, W., Klinger, J., Saha, N., Xia, Y., & Dai, S. (2024). Shear rate dependency on flowing granular biomass material. Powder Technology, 442, 119834.
Zhao, Y., Jin, W., Klinger, J., Dayton, D. C., & Dai, S. (2023). SPH modeling of biomass granular flow: Theoretical implementation and experimental validation. Powder Technology, 426, 118625.
Lu, Y., Jin, W., Klinger, J. L., & Dai, S. (2023). Effects of the Moisture Content on the Flow Behavior of Milled Woody Biomass. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Lu, Y., Jin, W., Saha, N., Klinger, J. L., Xia, Y., & Dai, S. (2022). Wedge-Shaped Hopper Design for Milled Woody Biomass Flow. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10(50), 16803-16813.
Jin, W., Lu, Y., Chen, F., Hamed, A., Saha, N., Klinger, J., … & Xia, Y. (2022). On the Fidelity of Computational Models for the Flow of Milled Loblolly Pine: A Benchmark Study on Continuum-Mechanics Models and Discrete-Particle Models. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10.
Lu, Y., Jin, W., Klinger, J., & Dai, S. (2021). Flow and arching of biomass particles in wedge-shaped hoppers. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(45), 15303-15314.
Lu, Y., Jin, W., Klinger, J., Westover, T. L., & Dai, S. (2021). Flow characterization of compressible biomass particles using multiscale experiments and a hypoplastic model. Powder Technology, 383, 396-409.
Jin, W., Klinger, J., Westover, T., & Huang, H. (2020). A density dependent Drucker-Prager/Cap model for ring shear simulation of ground loblolly pine. Powder Technology, 368,45-58.
Xia, Y., Stickel, J. J., Jin, W., & Klinger, J. (2020). A Review of Computational Models for the Flow of Milled Biomass Part I: Discrete-Particle Models. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8(16), 6142-6156.
Jin, W., Stickel, J. J., Xia, Y., & Klinger, J. (2020). A Review of Computational Models for the Flow of Milled Biomass Part II: Continuum-Mechanics Models. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8(16), 6157-6172.

Multiscale modeling of micro-crack initiation to macro-fracture propagation

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Brittle materials—such as concrete, rock, and ceramic composites—exhibit complex mechanical behavior at the meso-scale, including:

Stress-induced damage and stiffness anisotropy,
Nonlinear stress–strain relationships,
Volumetric dilation caused by irreversible strain,
Unilateral effects due to crack closure,
A brittle-to-ductile transition under increasing confining stress,
Distinct mechanical responses in tension and compression.

Physically, these effects arise from the nucleation and propagation of microcracks at grain boundaries and cross pore spaces. The growth and coalescence of these diffuse microcracks lead to the formation of localized macro-fractures and ultimately to structural failure. Accurately modeling this cross-scale process has been a long-standing challenge. The goal of this project is to:

Formulate constitutive damage models that captures these behaviors using physically meaningful and identifiable material parameters,
Develop algorithms and a theoretical framework to model the transition from microcrack evolution to macro-fracture formation,
Implement the constitutive and cohesive fracture models within finite element codes using appropriate discretization techniques,
Apply the computational framework to perform complete failure analyses of materials such as concrete, granite, and shale.

W. Jin, C. Arson, (2017). Discrete equivalent wing crack based damage model for brittle solids. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 110: 279-293.
W. Jin, C. Arson, (2017). Micromechanics based discrete damage model with multiple non-smooth yield surfaces: theoretical formulation, numerical implementation and engineering applications. International Journal of Damage Mechanics, 27(5), 611-639.
W. Jin, H. Xu, C. Arson, S. Busetti, (2017). Computational model coupling mode II discrete fracture propagation with continuum damage zone evolution. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 41(2):223-250.
W. Jin, C. Arson, (2018). Nonlocal enrichment of a micromechanical damage model with tensile softening: advantages and limitations. Computers and Geotechnics, 94: 196-206.
W. Jin, C. Arson, (2018). Anisotropic nonlocal damage model for materials with intrinsic transverse isotropy. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 139, 29-42
W. Jin, C. Arson, (2019). XFEM to couple nonlocal micromechanics damage with discrete mode I cohesive fracture. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 357, 112617

Foundational Research | Geosystem Innovation Laboratory

Nonconventional granular material flow modeling

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