Fully-resolved LBM-DEM simulations of piping erosion during a suction bucket installation

Join our Samuel kemmler in Himeji, Japan for the 10th International Conference on Discrete Element Methods (DEM10) this summer!

Suction bucket foundations are a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable solution to install offshore wind turbines, achieved through the application of growing suction pressure inside the bucket until its full embedment into the seabed. A key challenge for the installation process is the occurrence of piping erosion, a phenomenon where fluidization of particles beneath the bucket wall tip causes a drop in suction pressure, potentially leading to installation failure. Despite its significance, the complex physical mechanisms driving piping erosion remain insufficiently understood. To address this knowledge gap, a three-dimensional, fully-resolved coupled LBM-DEM simulation is employed to conduct an in-depth analysis of piping erosion, aiming to identify key influencing parameters, thus enhancing understanding and optimizing the installation process. The simulation of physically relevant problem sizes – comprising hundreds of thousands of grains – is equivalent to computational intensities which demand for extensive computational resources. Results from simulations executed on hundreds of GPUs on the LUMI supercomputer are presented, illustrating the method’s capability to tackle this complex challenge.