Two-phase modelling of pipeline scouring in OpenFOAM

Scouring is a crucial concern for design, operational, and submarine pipeline maintenance because it can lead to pipeline failure. This study presents a two-phase flow model developed in OpenFOAM for simulating early stages of scouring induced by current. The model couples the dynamics of fluid and sediment phases based on the Favre-Averaged Navier Stokes equations combined with a two-phase k – ϵ model and rheology-based constitutive models to compute fluid and sediment stresses, respectively. The model validation against experimental data shows favorable results for the flow and bed profile around the pipeline. The detailed fluid-particle interactions around the pipe are examined to understand the driving mechanisms of scour, which can be beneficial for deciding countermeasure methods of the scouring in the early stages.