A parametric study of the pipeline hammer phenomenon in plastic Bingham slurry flows using the finite element method

Abstract

We conduct a numerical study of the transient phenomenon in pipelines transporting plastic Bingham slurry flows, using a lowest-order finite element method (FEM). While most pipeline hammer studies focus on Newtonian fluids, the transient dynamics in Bingham fluids remains elusive and poorly afforded, despite their significant industrial impact, particularly in mining. A detailed parametric study assesses the effects of the slurry yield stress and the valve closure times on both pressure and velocity distributions along the pipeline, using an adaptive friction model to account for turbulent slurries. Results reveal that yield stress enhances flow resistance and accelerates pressure peak attenuation, underscoring the damping role of Bingham rheology compared to Newtonian flows. These insights emphasize the need for advanced FEM-based schemes in non-Newtonian shockwave modeling, with implications for industrial pipeline design and operational safety.