Verification of two-dimensional LBM-DEM coupling approach and its application in modeling episodic sand production in borehole

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is implemented in the Particle Flow Code (PFC) as a pore-scale CFD module and coupled with the particulate discrete element assemblage in PFC using an immersed boundary scheme. The implementation of LBM and LBM-PFC coupling is validated with the analytical solutions in a couple of hydrodynamics and fluid-particle interaction problems, i.e., the accuracy of LBM as a CFD solver is verified by solving channel flow driven by a pressure gradient for which the closed-form solution is also derived; the accuracy of LBM-PFC coupling is validated by solving flow across a cylinder, Taylor-Couette flow, Kármán vortex street, and fluid flow through a cylinder array. To demonstrate potential applications of this coupling code, a perforation cavity subjected to axial fluid flush is then tested, showing that the collapse and reconstruction of sand arch in the perforation cavity can be reproduced in this coupling system. The developed system is ready for exploring more complicated physical issues involved in sand production.