Investigation of Air Fluidization during Intruder Penetration in Sand
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866912521267445760 |
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| author | Wang, Bowen Peng, Yuxing Vergara, Alvaro Boyle, Jordan H. Fuentes, Raul |
| author_facet | Wang, Bowen Peng, Yuxing Vergara, Alvaro Boyle, Jordan H. Fuentes, Raul |
| contents | Self-burrowing robots navigating through granular media benefit from airflow-assisted burrowing, which reduces penetration resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying airflow-granular interactions remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we employ a coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) approach, supplemented by experimental cone penetration tests (CPT) under varying airflow conditions, to investigate the effects of aeration on penetration resistance. Experimental results reveal a nonlinear relationship between penetration resistance reduction and depth, wherein resistance approaches near-zero values up to a critical depth, beyond which the effectiveness of fluidization diminishes. Simulations demonstrate that higher airflow rates enhance the mobilization of overlying grains, increasing the critical depth. A detailed meso- and micro-scale analysis of particle motion, contact forces, and fluid pressure fields reveals four distinct penetration stages: particle ejection and channel formation, channel sealing, channel refill, and final compaction. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of granular aeration mechanisms and their implications for geotechnical engineering, excavation technologies, and the development of self-burrowing robotic systems. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_03350 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Investigation of Air Fluidization during Intruder Penetration in Sand Wang, Bowen Peng, Yuxing Vergara, Alvaro Boyle, Jordan H. Fuentes, Raul Soft Condensed Matter Self-burrowing robots navigating through granular media benefit from airflow-assisted burrowing, which reduces penetration resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying airflow-granular interactions remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we employ a coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) approach, supplemented by experimental cone penetration tests (CPT) under varying airflow conditions, to investigate the effects of aeration on penetration resistance. Experimental results reveal a nonlinear relationship between penetration resistance reduction and depth, wherein resistance approaches near-zero values up to a critical depth, beyond which the effectiveness of fluidization diminishes. Simulations demonstrate that higher airflow rates enhance the mobilization of overlying grains, increasing the critical depth. A detailed meso- and micro-scale analysis of particle motion, contact forces, and fluid pressure fields reveals four distinct penetration stages: particle ejection and channel formation, channel sealing, channel refill, and final compaction. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of granular aeration mechanisms and their implications for geotechnical engineering, excavation technologies, and the development of self-burrowing robotic systems. |
| title | Investigation of Air Fluidization during Intruder Penetration in Sand |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.03350 |