On the morphology and pressure-filtration characteristics of filter cake formation: Insight from coupled CFD–DEM simulations

The slurry filtration process at a tunnel face plays an important role in supporting pressure transmission, which is crucial to the stability of during shield tunneling. In this paper, series coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD)–discrete element method (DEM) numerical simulations were carried out model column test. A simplified JKR (Johnson-Kendall-Roberts) was used simulate cohesion between particles. Four types filter cake formation identified under different combinations size ratios and sand particles, particles according morphology pore distribution characteristics. These external cake, & internal deep penetration penetration. contact-based analysis constriction (void throat) sizes reveals that dynamic evolution structure closely related infiltration process, i.e., tends seal channel, prevents any more variation Dc50 (the median size) state drop within becomes significant, will become effective, only when ratio below threshold value. current study provides new insight into fundamental mechanism underlying