Effect of abrasive volume fraction on energy utilization in suspension abrasive water jets based on VOF-DEM method

Suspension abrasive water jets (AWJs) rock breaking is the kinetic energy of abrasive particle group transport and transfer. However, it is difficult to be popularized and utilized due to the high energy consumption of rock breaking. In this study, the energy transfer rate in AWJs was focused on and was investigated using numerical and experimental methods. A two-way coupled algorithm was used to reproduce the oscillation characteristics of abrasive jets velocities, indicating that not only the abrasives' velocities but also the abrasives' distribution is crucial in energy transfer rate. Different dominant factors accounting for the abrasives' velocities and distribution were identified, and two parameters were proposed to account for the energy transfer process during the jet evolution process. The optimum abrasives' volume fraction was determined based on the evolution of the energy density and ratio of abrasive kinetic energy to the total energy, which was validated by rock breaking experiments. Increasing ratio of abrasive kinetic energy to the total energy by using the method of changing the volume