Evolution characteristics of granular flow under low-gravity conditions

Abstract

Investigating the effect of gravity on the flow characteristics of granular materials is crucial for a deeper understanding of geological hazards on Earth and other celestial bodies. This research employs discrete element numerical simulation methods to systematically analyze the dynamic process of granular system collapse and flow under varying gravity conditions. By analyzing the collapse initiation angle, flow velocity, and energy evolution of the granular system at different time intervals, the study reveals that as gravity increases, both the average flow velocity and the front velocity of the granular system significantly increase. After normalizing the particle flow velocity, the velocity curves converge, indicating that both the flow velocity and duration are proportional to gravity. Higher gravity levels accelerate the accumulation of kinetic energy in the granular system, but once the kinetic energy reaches its peak, its dissipation rate also increases significantly. The energy dissipation, horizontal displacement, and evolution time of the granular system exhibit a power-law relationship with gravity. This research provides significant scientific value for further understanding the collapse and flow characteristics of granular systems in geological hazards on Earth and other extraterrestrial bodies.