Research on the Entrainment of Path Material by the Granular Flow

The experiment and numerical simulation were used to study the entrainment of path material by the granular flow. The effects of several factors on the entrainment were observed through the experiment. Research results show that when the granular flow passes on the loose material, the entrainment and deposition occur simultaneously. The final mass reduction in the entrainment area is a comprehensive performance of the entrainment and deposition. In general, the mass reduction in the entrainment area is directly proportional to the relative position of the source area and inversely proportional to the length of the entrainment area. The longer the entrainment area, the stronger the retarding effect on the granular flow Within the ability of the entrainment area to support grains, the deposition mass increases as the mass of the material from the source area increases. The numerical results show that the entrainment mainly passes through three main stages. In the first stage, the shear friction and collision between grains form a limited entrainment. In the second stage, the granular flow mainly scales up the entrainment by scraping. In the last stage, the rear part of the granular flow is deposited in the formed pit due to resistance.