Numerical simulation of cone penetration test by using CFD–DEM coupled analysis

Abstract

Precise stratigraphic characterization and assessment of soil parameters are essential for agricultural and geotechnical engineering. The cone penetration test (CPT) has become one of the most extensively used techniques for soil site assessment, because of its reproducibility, robustness, accuracy, and simplicity. The existing DEM (discrete element method) simulations on CPT are only applicable to dry soil, which cannot consider fluid phase (i.e., pore water) and its interaction with the soil particles. The combined DEM and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) approach is developed to model CPT testing on saturated soils in this study. Several sets of CPT simulations at various penetration rates have been performed by using CFD–DEM coupled analysis. The variation of penetration velocity leads to different magnitudes of fluid force, and the variation in fluid force, in turn, affects the CPT measurement of soil’s characteristics. Furthermore, the study extends beyond the properties of the soil itself to explore the complex interplay among soil particles, the surrounding fluid environment, and the penetrometer. The cumulative interactions among these elements highlight the intricate nature of CPT and underline the importance of comprehensive computational models in enhancing our understanding of these dynamics.