Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics for the Simulation of Broken-Ice Fields: Mohr–Coulomb-Type Rheology and Frictional Boundary Conditions

• Published in: Journal of computational physics Vol. 134; no. 2; pp. 203 - 215
• Main Authors: Gutfraind, Ricardo, Savage, Stuart B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.07.1997
• ISSN: 0021-9991; 1090-2716
• DOI: 10.1006/jcph.1997.5681

A rheology based on the Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion is implemented in the framework of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). We apply this approach to the simulation of broken-ice fields floating on the water surface and moving under the effect of wind forces. When broken-ice fields are regarded as a continuum, their rheological behavior can be described by a model known as viscous-plastic. In this approach the ice field is modeled as a viscous fluid for very small strain rates and is assumed to flow plastically otherwise. It is in the plastic regime that the stress states are described in terms of the Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion. Besides broken-ice fields, numerous other problems in the field of quasi-static granular flows can be characterized by this type of rheological behavior. We first show how the momentum equations for a Mohr–Coulomb-type rheology are implemented in the framework of SPH. For most granular flow systems, the moving interior particles are bounded by fixed frictional walls and one must also model these boundary conditions. A Coulomb-friction condition is applied within the framework of SPH. This type of boundary is implemented by means of a wall that exerts a normal potential force of repulsion on the SPH particles, combined with a tangential force proportional to the normal force. The approach can be applied to model flows adjacent to straight walls as well to more complicated boundaries.