Open Access

ARTICLE

A Numerical Study on Erosion and Wear Mechanisms in Variable Diameter Bend Pipes

Li Wang¹, Haipeng Mu¹, Jiming Zhu^2,*, Zhongchang Wang³

1 Shandong Jining Yunhe Coal Mine Co., Ltd., Jining, 272000, China
2 College of Resources, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Tai’an, 271019, China
3 School of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116028, China

* Corresponding Author: Jiming Zhu. Email:

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2025, 21(4), 989-1005. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.057931

Received 31 August 2024; Accepted 12 December 2024; Issue published 06 May 2025

Abstract

To elucidate the relationship between pipeline erosion and wear during slurry transportation, this study considers three key influencing parameters, namely, the ratio of inlet to outlet pipe diameter, the length of the variable diameter section, and the roughness of the pipe wall. The impact of these factors on pipeline erosion and wear is analyzed using a single-factor analysis approach. In particular, the Fluent software is employed to conduct the required numerical simulations for variable diameter elbows of varying morphologies. The results indicate that as the inlet to outlet diameter ratio increases, the wear on the pipe inlet and the outer wall of the elbow becomes increasingly pronounced. Notably, when the diameter ratio exceeds 0.8, there is a significant escalation in wear on both the inner and outer elbow walls. Initially, the maximum erosion rate decreases sharply with increasing diameter ratio before a stable condition is attained. Erosion wear in the variable diameter section exhibits a distinct layered distribution pattern. In this region, the wear range for a 40 mm length of the pipe body is relatively small; however, once this length exceeds 40 mm, the wear range expands, ultimately covering the entire pipe section. The length of the variable diameter section significantly influences the maximum erosion rate of the pipeline, with sections shorter than 80 mm experiencing the most severe effects, and showing an exponential decline in erosion rate. As the wall roughness gradually increases, the wear area on both cheeks of the bend section rapidly expands and tends to deepen further. When the roughness reaches 4 mm, the pipeline wear experiences a dramatic shift, resulting in extensive “spot-like” wear patterns emerging at the bottom and sides of the horizontal flow section, which previously exhibited no wear.

---

Keywords

---