Numerical modeling of viscous slurry infiltration in sand

Current numerical methods for describing slurry infiltration fail to take into account the viscous effect of slurry. This paper develops a one-dimensional slurry infiltration model accounting for the viscosity of the slurry. The permeability of sand is first modified by introducing the slurry's viscosity. Then governing equations are established using the modified permeability and solved by the finite difference method. Three infiltration tests with a wide range of slurry viscosities: 1.8, 58, and 2248 mpa·s are performed and simulated to validate the developed model. Good agreement between numerical and experimental results are obtained. Analysis of coupling behaviours indicates that an optimum slurry of viscosity can be recommended for engineering applications. Unlike previous studies describing incomplete behaviours, the proposed numerical model validates all coupling behaviours involving slurry particle transportation, hydraulic characteristics, and soil deformation. The proposed model can also simultaneously predict the results of slurry infiltration, including adequate infiltration depth, controllable soil deformation, and low-permeability cake.