New Insight into the Rheological Behavior of Soft Sediments: Integration of mechanical Testing and Numerical Modeling in Lake Urmia

Ebrahimnezhad Sadigh, Ebrahim; Badv, Kazem

doi:10.22044/jme.2026.16711.3279

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Urmia university

² Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

10.22044/jme.2026.16711.3279

Abstract

Understanding the rheological behavior of soft marine and lacustrine sediments is crucial for the success of geotechnical and civil engineering projects. Coastal and offshore structures such as artificial islands, lake causeways, piers, and oil platforms directly interact with these sediments. Their safe and stable performance depends on accurate characterization of sediment behavior under complex loading conditions. This study investigates the rheological properties of soft sediments from Lake Urmia, Iran, through a combined experimental and numerical approach. Two key tests were performed: extrusion tests and unconfined compression tests. The extrusion tests were conducted on both undisturbed and remolded samples under various conditions, including different loading rates, moisture contents, and discharge orifice sizes. For the numerical simulation, the Bonded Particle Discrete Element Method (BPDEM) was employed, with the model's micro-parameters calibrated using experimental extrusion test data. The numerical results showed excellent agreement with experimental data: the force-displacement curve was replicated with less than 2% error. The calibrated model also successfully simulated the unconfined compression test, reproducing the stress-strain curve with less than 2% deviation from laboratory results. These findings demonstrate the accuracy of BPDEM in modeling soft sediment behavior. The results indicate that integrating laboratory methods with BPDEM modeling provides a powerful tool for analyzing soft sediments. This approach is particularly effective for Holocene and Late Pleistocene soft to ultra-soft sediments, offering reliable predictions of rheological and mechanical behavior in geotechnical applications.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Numerical Modelling

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Journal of Mining and Environment

New Insight into the Rheological Behavior of Soft Sediments: Integration of mechanical Testing and Numerical Modeling in Lake Urmia

References

References

Volume 17, Issue 5
July and August 2026
Pages 1863-1885

New Insight into the Rheological Behavior of Soft Sediments: Integration of mechanical Testing and Numerical Modeling in Lake Urmia

References

References

Volume 17, Issue 5July and August 2026Pages 1863-1885

Volume 17, Issue 5
July and August 2026
Pages 1863-1885