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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sensitivity analyses of random cave groups on karst tunnel stability based on water–rock interaction using a novel contact dynamic method

This paper concentrates on the sensitivity and dynamic simulation of randomly distributed karst cave groups on tunnel stability and connectivity extended ratio based on water–rock interaction using a novel contact dynamic method(CDM).The concept of karst cave group connectivity extended ratio during tunneling and water inrush is proposed.The effects of cave shape and spatial distribution on Qiyueshan tunnel are investigated.Tunnel deformation and damage index,and connectivity extended ratio with uniform random karst cave groups are evaluated.The results demonstrate that the connectivity extended ratio is verified as a crucial judgment in predicting the safe distance and assessing the stability of the tunnel with the karst cave group.CDM model captures the fracture propagation and contact behavior of rock mass,surface flow,as well as the bidirectional water–rock interaction during the water inrush of Qiyueshan tunnel with multiple caves.A larger cave radius and smaller minimum distance between the cave and tunnel increase the deformation and damage index of the surrounding rock.When the cave radius and cave area ratio increase,the failure pattern shifts from overall to local failure.These findings potentially have broad applications in various surface and subsurface scenarios involving water–rock interactions.

Stability analysis on tunnels with karst caves using the distinct lattice spring model

The effects of karst caves on tunnel stability were numerically investigated using the distinct lattice spring model(DLSM).The DLSM was validated by investigating the mechanical behavior of Brazilian discs with various sizes of central circular holes.Then,the effects of karst cave on U-shaped tunnel were investigated under various karst caves positions(top,bottom,and right side of the tunnel),tunnelcave distances(0.5-4 times the radius of the tunnel arc),and cave shapes(circular,rectangular flat,and rectangular vertical caves).The failure processes of the tunnel under those various conditions were analyzed and both the failure process and the final failure patterns of the tunnel were discussed.Numerical simulation demonstrated that karst caves around the tunnel could weaken the stability of the tunnel,indicating tunnel-cave distance effects.The closer the cave to the tunnel,the weaker the tunnel under loading.This effect was not significant when the tunnel-cave distance(d)was larger than three times the tunnel arc radius(R).In addition,the final failure pattern of the tunnel and its surrounding rock mass were dependent on both the position and the size of the cave.The larger the cave,the weaker the tunnel and its surrounding rock mass.Furthermore,compared with those cases with top and bottom caves,the tunnel with a right side cave had more impacts on tunnel stability.The main research finding could help engineers carry out stability analysis on tunnels in karst areas and take effective measures to enhance tunnel stability.

Large-scale model test study on the water pressure resistance of construction joints of karst tunnel linings

Model tests and numerical calculations were adopted based on the New Yuanliangshan tunnel project to investigate the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints in high-pressure and water-rich karst tunnels.A large-scale model test was designed and conducted,innovatively transforming the external water pressure of the lining construction joint into internal water pressure.The effects of the embedded position and waterstop type on the water pressure resistance of the construction joint were analyzed,and the reliability of the model test was verified via numerical calculations.The results show that using waterstops can significantly improve the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints.The water pressure resistance of the lining construction joint is positively correlated with the lining thickness and embedded depth of the waterstop.In addition,the type of waterstop significantly influences the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints.The test results show that the water pressure resistance of the embedded transverse reinforced waterstop is similar to that of the steel plate waterstop,and both have more advantages than the rubber waterstop.The water pressure resistance of the construction joint determined via numerical calculations is similar to the model test results,indicating that the model test results have high accuracy and reliability.This study provides a reference for similar projects and has wide applications.

A Comparative Study on Hydrodynamics and Hydrochemistry Coupled Simulations of Drainage Pipe Crystallization Blockage in Karst Tunnels

Drainage pipe system is the requisite component of the traffic tunnels in Karst area.To reveal the dynamic process of crystallization blockage in drainage pipes,a novel hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry coupled simulation model was developed for calculating the deposition rate of CaCO_(3) fouling in pipeline surface.Sediments adhering to the pipe walls involve a deformable domain with moving geometric boundaries,and moving mesh and level set methods are proposed for simulation of for tunnel turbulence and crystallization fouling process.The simulation results are compared with the experimental results showing similar trend.The effects of temperature,flow velocity,and solution concentration on crystallization blockage were analyzed by comparative simulation studies.The simulation results show that:(1)the moving mesh method simulated nozzle shrinkage caused by crystalline deposition,without accounting for geometric topology shape changes.However,the level set method tracked the moving topology and thus can simulate the process of complete blockage;(2)the flow velocity in the longitudinal pipe generally exceeded that in the transverse pipe,and the CaCO_(3) crystal concentration in the transverse pipe eclipsed that in the longitudinal pipe,which meant crystallization blockages primarily occurred in the transverse pipe;(3)the temperature and concentration correlated positively with the crystallization rate,while the crystal precipitation value decreases with the increasing of inlet flow velocity increases.This study advances a hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry coupled crystallization blockage model to provide technical support for the early identification of crystallizationinduced pipe blockage in the drainage system in karst tunnel sites.

Numerical modeling of the failure process of the heterogeneous karst rock mass using the DDA-SPH method

The sanding process caused by karstification in dolomite creates a special sandy dolomite stratum,where the frequent catastrophic instability of the surrounding rock occurred during tunnel construction.In this study,the micro-origin and macro-performance of the sandy dolomite stratum are first discussed.Then,a numerical model based on the coupling method between the discontinuous deformation analysis and smoothed particle hydrodynamics is proposed to depict the heterogeneous dolomite formation with different sanding degrees.Following,the mechanical behaviors of the heterogeneous dolomite samples under uniaxial compression are studied after calibrating the numerical parameters with the two single materials sampled from the tunnel site respectively.Further,the instability disasters of the dolomite surrounding rock with different sanding degrees are reproduced,and the failure behaviors of tunnels are explained with respect to the stress distribution and plastic zone.The obtained results show that the rotation and dislocation of the remained dolomite block contribute to the unsmooth stress–strain curve and deterioration in uniaxial compressive strength.However,the block serves as the skeleton in the transmission of field stress in underground space,which improves the stability of the formation.

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。

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。