Evaluating the characteristics of geological structures in karst groundwater inflow, Nowsud Tunnel

Highly permeable geological structures such as dissolution channels, open fractures, and faults create environmental challenges regard to hydrological and hydrogeological aspects of underground construction, often causing significant groundwater inflow during drilling due to the limitations of empirical and analytical methods. This study aims to identify the geological factors influencing water flow into the tunnel. High-flow zones' geological features have been identified and examined for this purpose. According to the geological complexity of the Nowsud tunnel, presence of different formations with different permeability and karstification have led to a high volume of underground inflow water (up to 4700 L/s) to the tunnel. The Nowsud tunnel faces significant geological and hydrogeological challenges due to its passage through the Ilam formation's LI2 unit, characterized by dissolution channels, faults, and fractures. The highest inflow rate (4700 L/s) occurred in the Hz-9 zone within the Zimkan anticline. The relationship between geological features and groundwater inflow indicates that anticlines are more susceptible to inflow than synclines. Additionally, different types of faults exhibit varying hydraulic effects, with strike-slip faults having the most significant impact on groundwater inflow, thrust faults conducting less water into the tunnel, and inflow through normal faults being negligible compared to the other two types of faults. The novelty of this paper lies in its detailed analysis of geological features influencing groundwater inflow into the Nowsud tunnel, providing empirical data on high-flow zones and differentiating the hydraulic effects of various fault types, which enhances the understanding and prediction of groundwater inflow in underground constructions.

Scaling and clogging treatment of aging tunnel drainage pipes in karst areas using eco-friendly acid agent

In karst areas,the drainage pipes of aging tunnels are prone to be clogged by precipitated carbonates,resulting in lining cracking and tunnel leaking.As a result,not only the driving safety will be deteriorated,but also the water pressure on the lining might also be elevated significantly.For the structural stability and service lifespan of old tunnels,it is of great importance to remove these precipitated carbonates in time.Traditional treatment methods are often destructive to some extent or not efficient enough.This study aims to experimentally develop an eco-friendly acid-based chemical cleaning method to remove carbonate precipitations efficiently.The proposed chemical cleaning agent is an aqueous solution with strong acidity,consisting of sulfamic acid,water,and additives.The factors affecting the cleaning efficiency include the acid solubility,temperature and flow rate of the cleaning agent,as well as additives.Elevating the solution temperature to 50
C or a flow rate of no less than 0.2 m/s can improve cleaning efficiency.Although the salt effect cannot work,1 wt%of polymaleic acid as a surfactant could further promote the cleaning rate.The cleaning efficiency will increase with the flow rate in a power function.The relatively low flow rate that improves the cleaning rate considerably can avoid highpressure-induced mechanical damage to tunnel drainpipes.The waste could be easily treated to acceptable levels using commercial sewage treatment products and can also be recycled in agriculture.With the chemical cleaning,the water pressure at the arch springing of the lining will reduce with the increased radius of transverse drainpipes in a power function.The proposed acid-based cleaning method,which is highly efficient,non-or low-destructive to aging tunnels,sufficiently safe for humans,and friendly enough to the environment,will offer a promising alternative to remove the precipitated carbonates in tunnel drainpipes efficiently.

Analysis on the Characteristics and Laws of Tunnel Hydraulic Inrush in Karst Area

As highways are extended to deep mountains,high altitudes,and special geological conditions,tunnel construction becomes more and more challenging,especially the construction of tunnels in karst areas.Due to the particularity of the regional geological structure,karst is well developed in the southwest of our country,especially at areas where the problem of tunnel water inrush in karst areas is more prominent.To further ensure the safe construction and operation of tunnels,the characteristics of tunnels in karst areas is analyzed in this article.

Study on Mechanism of Water Inrush of Karst Tunnels

Water inrush,which is one of the challenging issues and hot topics in the tunneling industry,is very easy to occur during the construction of karst tunnels.The mechanism of water inrush of karst tunnels is discussed and analyzed in the paper:the water inrush of karst tunnels is generally divided into three steps,i.e.,the forming of the hazard source,the forming of the water inrush passage and the failure of the anti-inrush rock mass.The failure of the anti-inrush rock mass of karst tunnels are classified into 5 types,i.e.,the integral tensile-shear failure,the hydraulic fracturing,the infiltration induced sliding of the filling medium,the loss of key blocks and the comprehensive water inrush mode.The failure mechanism is studied on basis of typical cases and by means of numerical simulation or theoretical analysis.Conclusion is drawn that most of the water inrushes in actual tunneling are comprehensive water inrushes,which are the comprehensive results of the interrelation and interaction of various water inrush types,and that different types of water inrushes have related continuity and progressive evolution relationships under certain conditions.

Collapse analysis of tunnel floor in karst area based on Hoek-Brown rock media

Collapse shape of tunnel floor in Hoek-Brown rock media is investigated with the functional catastrophe theory. The stability of rock system in tunnel floor, which is determined by thickness, half collapse width, half length of cave and detaching curve, has great secure and economic significance in practical engineering. To investigate the failure mechanisms and the outline of detaching block, a reliable damage model is presumed by making reference to the limit analysis theory. The analytical solutions of detaching curve, half collapse width on tunnel floor and the critical and maximum values of collapse thickness are derived based on Hoek-Brown criterion and functional catastrophe theory. The result shows that 0.5 is a most probable condition for instability, and the shape of detaching curve is a part of parabola. It is reasonable by comparing with previous theory and analogous experiments. The effects of major factors on thickness and half collapse width are further discussed. Numerical calculations and parametric analysis are carried out to illustrate the effects of different parameters on the mechanism, which is significant to the stability analysis of tunnel floor in rock media.

Safety thickness analysis of tunnel floor in karst region based on catastrophe theory

Based on the tunnel shape, span and depth, the previous elliptical plate model and clamped beam model were modified.The modified model was applied to different situations. For the elliptical plate model, the water effects were considered. For the clamped beam model, water and horizontal stress were considered. Corresponding potential functions and cusp catastrophe models of rock system were established based on the catastrophe theory. The expressions of critical safety thickness were derived with necessary and sufficient conditions. The method was applied to the practical engineering. Some parameters related to the stability were discussed. The results show that elastic modulus and thickness are advantageous to the floor stability, and that the load, span,horizontal stress and water are disadvantageous to the floor stability.

An attribute recognition model for safe thickness assessment between concealed karst cave and tunnel

An attribute recognition model for safe thickness assessment between a concealed karst cave and a tunnel is established based on the attribute mathematic theory.The model can be applied to carrying out risk classification of the safe thickness between a concealed karst cave and a tunnel and to guarantee construction’s safety in tunnel engineering.Firstly,the assessment indicators and classification standard of safe thickness between a concealed karst cave and a tunnel are studied based on the perturbation method.Then some attribute measurement functions are constructed to compute the attribute measurement of each single index and synthetic attribute measurement.Finally,the identification and classification of risk assessment of safe thickness between a concealed karst cave and a tunnel are recognized by the confidence criterion.The results of two engineering application show that the evaluation results agree well with the site situations in construction.The results provide a good guidance for the tunnel construction.

Catastrophe theory-based risk evaluation model for water and mud inrush and its application in karst tunnels

This paper presents a risk evaluation model of water and mud inrush for tunnel excavation in karst areas.The factors affecting the probabilities of water and mud inrush in karst tunnels are investigated to define the dangerousness of this geological disaster.The losses that are caused by water and mud inrush are taken into consideration to account for its harmfulness.Then a risk evaluation model based on the dangerousness-harmfulness evaluation indicator system is constructed,which is more convincing in comparison with the traditional methods.The catastrophe theory is used to evaluate the risk level of water and mud inrush and it has great advantage in handling problems involving discontinuous catastrophe processes.To validate the proposed approach,the Qiyueshan tunnel of Yichang-Wanzhou Railway is taken as an example in which four target segments are evaluated using the risk evaluation model.Finally,the evaluation results are compared with the excavation data,which shows that the risk levels predicted by the proposed approach are in good agreements with that observed in engineering.In conclusion,the catastrophe theory-based risk evaluation model is an efficient and effective approach for water and mud inrush in karst tunnels.

A new clay-cement composite grouting material for tunnelling in underwater karst area

A new clay-cement composite grouting material (CCGM) for tunnelling in underwater karst area was developed through the excellent synergistic interactions among cement, clay, meta-aluminate and lignin. The probable formation mechanism of the material was proposed based on a series of experimental tests. The results show that with an optimal mass ratio (2:1:1:0.024) for water, cement, clay and additives, the obtained CCGM displayed an excellent grouting performance for karst in an underwater condition. Compared with neat cement grouts and clay-cement grouts, CCGM has faster gel time, lower bleeding rate and bulk shrinkage rate, greater initial viscosity, and a strong resistance to water dispersion. A successful engineering application indicates that CCGM not only fulfils a better grouting performance for karst in underwater conditions but also reduces the engineering cost and environmental pollution.

Minimum safe thickness of rock plug in karst tunnel according to upper bound theorem

High pressure and water-bearing caverns ahead of a karst tunnel face tend to cause geological disasters, such as water and mud bursts. So, the determination of safe thickness of the reserved rock plug is a key technical problem to be solved for karst tunnel construction. Based on the Hoek-Brown nonlinear failure criterion, the minimum safe thickness of rock plug was investigated in the light of the limit analysis theory. On the basis of the proposed failure mode, the expression of the minimum thickness for rock plug was obtained by means of upper bound theorem in combination with variational principle. The calculation results show the influence of each parameter on safe thickness and reveal the damage range of rock plug. The proposed method is verified by comparing the results with those of the drain cavern of Maluqing Tunnel. The research shows that with the increase of compressive strength and tensile strength as well as constant A of Hoek-Brown criterion, the safe thickness decreases, whereas with the increase of cavern pressure, tunnel diameter, and constant B from Hoek-Brown criterion, the safe thickness increases. Besides, the tensile strength, or constants A and B affect the shear failure angle of rock plug structure, but other parameters do not. In conclusion, the proposed method can predict the minimum safe thickness of rock plug, and is useful for water burst study and prevention measures of tunnels constructed in high-risk karst regions.

Energy analysis of rock plug thickness in karst tunnels based on non-associated flow rule and nonlinear failure criterion

The geological hazards, such as water inrush and mud outburst, are easily induced by the high water pressure caverns ahead of a karst tunnel face. Therefore, it is a pivotal issue to determine the reserved thickness of rock plug during the construction of tunnels. The limit analysis principle is employed to analyze the safe thickness from the point of energy dissipation, and the nonlinear and non-associated characteristics of geotechnical materials are both considered. On the basis of a plane failure pattern of rock plug, the expressions of detaching curve and rock plug thickness are derived. The effect of each parameter on the safe thickness of rock plug is discussed in detail, which interprets the corresponding failure scope of rock plug. The obtained results indicate that the thickness of rock plug is highly influenced by the nonlinear dilatancy coefficient and the nonlinear coefficient. The proposed method is validated by a comparison of the calculated results with those of the engineering project of the "526 karst cavern" of Yunwushan tunnel. This proposed method can provide reference basis for the design and excavation of karst tunnels in the future.

Seepage field distribution and water inflow laws of tunnels in water-rich regions

Currently,the water inrush hazards during tunnel construction,the water leakage during tunnel operation,and the accompanying disturbances to the ecological environment have become the main problems that affect the structural safety of tunnels in water-rich regions.In this paper,a tunnel seepage model testing system was used to conduct experiments of the grouting circle and primary support with different permeability coefficients.The influences of the supporting structures on the water inflow laws and the distribution of the water pressure in the tunnel were analyzed.With the decrease in the permeability coefficient of the grouting circle or the primary support,the inflow rate of water into the tunnel showed a non-linear decreasing trend.In comparison,the water inflow reduction effect of grouting circle was much better than that of primary support.With the increase of the permeability coefficient of the grouting ring,the water pressure behind the primary lining increases gradually,while the water pressure behind the grouting ring decreases.Thus,the grouting of surrounding rock during the construction of water-rich tunnel can effectively weaken the hydraulic connection,reduce the influence range of seepage,and significantly reduce the decline of groundwater.Meanwhile,the seepage tests at different hydrostatic heads and hydrodynamic heads during tunnel operation period were also conducted.As the hydrostatic head decreased,the water pressure at each characteristic point decreased approximately linearly,and the water inflow rate also had a gradual downward trend.Under the action of hydrodynamic head,the water pressure had an obvious lagging effect,which was not conducive to the stability of the supporting structures,and it could be mitigated by actively regulating the drainage rate.Compared with the hydrostatic head,the hydrodynamic head could change the real-time rate of water inflow to the tunnel and broke the dynamic balance between the water pressure and water inflow rate,thereby affecting the stress state on the supporting structures.

Detection and treatment of water inflow in karst tunnel：A case study in Daba tunnel

In a karst tunnel, fissures or cracks that are filled with weathered materials are a type of potential water outlet as they are easily triggered and converted into groundwater outlets under the influence of high groundwater pressure. A terrible water inrush caused by potential water outlets can seriously hinder the project construction. Potential water outlets and water sources that surrounding the tunnel must be detected before water inflow can be treated. This paper provides a successful case of the detection and treatment of water inflow in a karst tunnel and proposes a potential water outlet detection(PWOD) method in which heavy rainfall(>50 mm/d) is considered a trigger for a potential water outlet. The Daba tunnel located in Hunan province, China, has been constructed in a karst stratum where the rock mass has been weathered intensely by the influence of two faults. Heavy rain triggered some potential water outlets, causing a serious water inrush. The PWOD method was applied in this project for the treatment of water inflow, and six potential water outlets in total were identified through three heavy rains. Meanwhile, a geophysical prospecting technique was also used to detect water sources. The connections between water outlets and water sources were identified with a 3-D graphic that included all of them. According to the distribution of water outlets and water sources, the detection area was divided into three sections and separately treated by curtain grouting.

Application of TSD tunnel seismic prediction system in karst area

TSD is one of the classical methods of tunnel seismic prediction based on higher accuracy multi-wave multi-component seismology.The working principle of the TSD and an application example of the TSD on tunnel prediction in Chongqing are introduced in this paper.This system has two ports for speed signal and acceleration signal,and the equipment is more portable and easy to use.According to the application results we can conclude that the TSD prediction system is accurate and it has the wide application prospect in tunnel seismic detection.

深埋岩溶隧道爆破开挖对围岩损伤及渗流特性的影响

深埋岩溶隧道开挖会造成围岩特殊的损伤破坏形式,并且损伤区也会影响围岩渗流场及隧道边界的涌水状况,对深埋岩溶隧道爆破开挖作用下围岩的损伤及渗流特性有重要的研究意义。为了研究爆破开挖对深埋岩溶隧道围岩损伤及渗流的影响规律,基于COMSOL Multiphysics软件建立数值模型并嵌入应力-渗流-损伤耦合方程式进行计算,采用解析法计算了简化条件下岩溶隧道开挖时围岩的应力分布,并与数值计算结果进行比较。结果表明:解析法与数值法计算的围岩应力分布有一致性,爆炸荷载使靠近溶洞侧隧道肩部及脚部区域会产生较大的拉应力;爆破后会在隔水岩柱形成“齿”状损伤区,同时引起肩部及脚部区域流速的增加,其可作为判断溶洞方位的参考依据;溶洞净距减小、洞径及水压增加会引起“齿”延伸倾角及最大涌水位置变化、隧道边界涌水量的增加,可根据“齿”延伸方向判断损伤区检测的合理方位,根据最大涌水位置变化、隧道边界涌水量的变化,合理调整涌水防治措施强度及重点防治部位。研究成果可为溶洞位置判定、隧道损伤区检测以及边界涌水防治措施提供参考。

基于SVM的富水岩溶区双线盾构隧道下穿既有线临界安全距离研究

双线盾构隧道在极复杂的岩溶地质中下穿既有线施工时,会对地层造成较大扰动,从而增加既有地表沉降过大或坍塌的风险,严重威胁既有线的运营安全。同时,隧道穿越富水岩溶区域时,需要保持一定距离以避免与溶洞相交,确保双线盾构隧道围岩的稳定性。利用FlAC^(3D)软件建立不同工况组合下双线盾构隧道与左侧溶洞的临界安全距离数值模型,分析不同地下水位对既有线沉降和围岩塑性区范围的影响,并采用正交试验和多元线性回归方法建立双线盾构隧道在不同围岩等级、地下水埋深、开挖隧道埋深和溶洞孔径组合下与溶洞的临界安全距离计算公式。此外,还基于SVM模型对正交试验结果进行机器学习,得到可以预测岩溶地区双线盾构隧道临界安全距离的智能预测系统,实现双线盾构隧道下穿既有线临界安全距离的非线性智能预测。结果表明:当地下水位位于既有线以上时,其水位越高,既有线的沉降量越大、围岩塑性区范围越大,地下水对盾构隧道与溶洞的临界安全距离有很大影响,应用SVM模型和多元线性回归方法确定双线盾构隧道与溶洞之间的临界安全距离是行之有效的。

富水岩溶地区隧道涌水预测与施工处置技术研究

针对贵州某隧道施工过程中遭遇一处连通地下暗河的大型溶洞引起隧道内大规模涌水的灾害进行研究,结合水文地质情况对涌水量进行预测和分析后,现场先对岩溶水进行初步释压,后采用水泥砂浆分步回填隧道上伏溶腔以封堵岩溶出水口;进一步采用集水管引排岩溶水的方式对剩余地下水进行二次加强处理,同时将集水管与隧道外侧的泄水洞相连,二者构成一套完整的引排水系统的处治手段。采用堵排相结合的原则有效地达到涌水处置目的,确保了隧道的安全施工,可为类似地层的隧道施工提供有益的借鉴。

顶部隐伏溶洞对隧道围岩变形特征影响分析——以齐岳山高速公路隧道为例

齐岳山高速公路岩溶隧址区强致灾性隐伏溶洞较为发育,为研究隐伏溶洞对隧道围岩位移影响的变化规律,选取围岩等级、隧道埋深2个地质因素,对溶洞大小、溶洞与隧道的距离2个形态因素开展数值试验,讨论支护对围岩位移的影响,分析顶部隐伏溶洞对隧道围岩不同方向变形的影响,系统研究不同因素对顶部溶洞作用效果的影响规律。得到如下研究结果:1)顶部溶洞对围岩变形在垂直方向和水平方向的作用效果是相反的,在垂直方向,顶部溶洞减缓拱顶和拱底的收敛效果;在水平方向,顶部溶洞加剧拱腰的收敛效果,且对拱顶、拱底、拱腰位移变化的影响依次减小。2)随着围岩级别提高、隧道埋深增大、溶洞尺寸增大、溶洞与隧道距离减小,顶部溶洞对隧道围岩变形影响的作用效果增强;在因素设计范围内,各因素对顶部溶洞作用效果的影响差异明显。

综合物探方法在贵南高铁隧道基底隐伏岩溶探测中的应用

高铁隧道路线经过岩溶地区,勘察阶段由于地形和物探方法局限性的影响,不能完全勘察清楚岩溶发育情况。本文结合高密度地震映像、地质雷达、二维瞬态面波和钻探方法,详细研究了隧道施工阶段岩溶探查中各种方法的外业数据采集、处理方法、数据分析的注意事项。经过研究,将地震映像的主频提高到800 Hz,可分辨深度5~25 m、宽度10 m左右的空溶洞和充填溶洞;地质雷达有效能量提高到600 ns,可分辨深度30 m内岩溶通道。结合贵南高铁隧道基底岩溶探查中的各种典型图像特征,以及地质施工人员的要求,探讨了隧道基底岩溶探测资料物探地质解释的四类划分解释原则,满足了地质人员及设计施工对物探资料可读性的要求,为岩溶探测资料解释提供了参考。

地震映像法在探明隧道底部隐伏岩溶中的研究

研究目的:在建高速铁路岩溶隧道的施工,要探明隧道底部影响隧道安全的隐伏岩溶进行工程整治,确定采用何种方法才能快速探明其岩溶的深度、性质和范围,由此提出采用地震映像法,本文对其展开研究。研究结论:(1)采用地震映像法的偏移距、同相轴断裂宽度特征,与相邻测线斜向近距离同特征的平面物理连通,以及正验计算统计其岩溶波速,反验解释其岩溶形态并钻孔验证,达到快速探明隧道底部影响隧道安全的隐伏岩溶的深度、性质和范围可行;(2)能探明隧道底部多条测线下最大深度达30 m内不同深度的岩溶较发育和岩溶发育、充填黏土溶洞、空腔溶洞、残留洞渣,进行工程整治,整治要确定最佳有效方案,其分别对应于水泥注浆、高压旋喷桩、桩板结构或砌石支墩、清除残留洞渣,以及整治后的隧道底部强度稳定,不下沉不上拱,并确保岩溶水排泄畅通,就能确保隧道安全;(3)要重视隧道底部仰拱二次填充层施工质量的力棒敲击检测,振声均达质量完整的实响声;(4)本研究成果可为铁路、公路岩溶隧道等领域快速探明隧道底部影响隧道安全的隐伏岩溶的深度、性质和范围,确定最佳有效整治方案提供参考。