Non-Newtonian fluid rheological properties of wave-induced liquefied silt and its forces on buried pipeline

The silt seabed can undergo liquefaction under wave action, resulting in the liquefied silt seabed exhibiting non-Newtonian fluid characteristics and fluctuating in phase with the overlying waves. The fluctuation of the liquefied silt seabed can impose periodic forces on the buried pipelines, posing a significant threat to their safety. This study achieves the measurement of the non-Newtonian fluid rheological properties of wave-induced liquefied silt, through the improvement of the falling-ball method. The improved falling-ball method enables in situ measurement of the rheological properties of liquefied silt in fluctuation state. This method is applied in two wave flume experiments to investigate the effects of wave intensity and the liquefaction process on the rheological properties of liquefied silt. Building on this foundation, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical model is developed to simulate the wave-liquefied silt interaction, utilizing the rheological properties of the liquefied silt obtained from experimental measurement. The model is used to evaluate the fluctuation velocity of the liquefied silt under field conditions and its forces acting on buried pipelines. The research findings provide foundational data for more accurate simulations of the movement of wave-induced liquefied silt and its effects on structures.