Study on flow behavior of fresh concrete in elbow using the dense discrete phase approach

Abstract The presence of an elbow in the pipe during pumping can cause serious problems such as separation and clogging of the concrete. It is difficult to accurately and intuitively observe the internal information of the pump tube. This work used the Dense Discrete Phase Model (DDPM) to investigate the flow behavior of fresh concrete in the elbow. Firstly, the accuracy of the simulation model is verified. Then, the DDPM is used to research the flow behavior of fresh concrete in the elbow at different inlet velocities, and the changing rules of flow velocity, pressure loss, and particle migration are revealed. This work provides a solution to ensure the normal pumping process and effectively predict the pump pressure loss.