Effects of dry-wet cycles on three-dimensional pore structure and permeability characteristics of granite residual soil using X-ray micro computed tomography

Due to seasonal climate alterations,the microstructure and permeability of granite residual soil are easily affected by multiple dry-wet cycles.The X-ray micro computed tomography(micro-CT)acted as a nondestructive tool for characterizing the microstructure of soil samples exposed to a range of damage levels induced by dry-wet cycles.Subsequently,the variations of pore distribution and permeability due to drywet cycling effects were revealed based on three-dimensional(3D)pore distribution analysis and seepage simulations.According to the results,granite residual soils could be separated into four different components,namely,pores,clay,quartz,and hematite,from micro-CT images.The reconstructed 3D pore models dynamically demonstrated the expanding and connecting patterns of pore structures during drywet cycles.The values of porosity and connectivity are positively correlated with the number of dry-wet cycles,which were expressed by exponential and linear functions,respectively.The pore volume probability distribution curves of granite residual soil coincide with the χ^(2)distribution curve,which verifies the effectiveness of the assumption of χ^(2)distribution probability.The pore volume distribution curves suggest that the pores in soils were divided into four types based on their volumes,i.e.micropores,mesopores,macropores,and cracks.From a quantitative and visual perspective,considerable small pores are gradually transformed into cracks with a large volume and a high connectivity.Under the action of dry-wet cycles,the number of seepage flow streamlines which contribute to water permeation in seepage simulation increases distinctly,as well as the permeability and hydraulic conductivity.The calculated hydraulic conductivity is comparable with measured ones with an acceptable error margin in general,verifying the accuracy of seepage simulations based on micro-CT results.

MRT-LBM-based numerical simulation of seepage flow through fractal fracture networks

The study on seepage flow passing through single fractures is essential and critical for understanding of the law of seepage flow passing through fracture networks and the coupling mechanisms of seepage field and stress field in rock masses.By using the fractal interpolation to reconstruct a natural coarse fracture,as well as taking into account the microstructure of the fracture,the numerical simulation of seepage flow passing through the coarse fractures with two distinct vertical scaling factors is conducted based on the MRT-LBM model of the lattice Boltzmann method.Then,after obtaining the length of the preferential flow pathway,the permeability of the two kinds of fractures is estimated respectively.In view of difficulties in locating the preferential flow pathway of natural fracture networks,by numerical tests a transect permeability weighted algorithm for estimating the fracture network permeability is proposed.The algorithm is not specific to one or more particular preferential flow pathways,but considers the contribution of each section to hinder the fluid passing through the medium.In order to apply the new algorithm,by capturing the structure of fracture networks based on the image-processing technique,the numerical simulations of seepage flow passing through two groups of natural fracture networks is carried out,the permeability is forecasted and the partial flows are reproduced for both cases.It is found that the preferential flow pathway emerges at the beginning of evolution,then is strengthened subsequently,and finally reaches a steady status.Furthermore,by using the proposed method some details on local flow can be clearly observed such as backflows and vortices at local branches can exist simultaneously and so forth,suggesting the validness of the proposed method for multiscale simulations of seepage flow.

Effect of protective coal seam mining and gas extraction on gas transport in a coal seam

A gas–solid coupling model involving coal seam deformation,gas diffusion and seepage,gas adsorption and desorption was built to study the gas transport rule under the effect of protective coal seam mining.The research results indicate:(1) The depressurization effect changes the stress state of an overlying coal seam and causes its permeability to increase,thus gas in the protected coal seam will be desorbed and transported under the effect of a gas pressure gradient,which will cause a decrease in gas pressure.(2) Gas pressure can be further decreased by setting out gas extraction boreholes in the overlying coal seam,which can effectively reduce the coal and gas outburst risk.The research is of important engineering significance for studying the gas transport rule in protected coal seam and providing important reference for controlling coal and gas outbursts in deep mining in China.

Numerical analysis of the destruction of water-resisting strata in a coal seam floor in mining above aquifers

With the increase in mining depth many mining areas in China have entered a period necessitating mining above aquifers. Production safety in coal mines in northern China is under serious threat from Ordovician karst water on coal seam floors, in order to analyze the destruction of water-resisting strata in floors of coal seams being mined and to achieve safe mining above deep aquifers, we established a numerical model of water-resisting strata, considering the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of a floor layered with hard and soft rock. We simulated the distribution characteristics of deformation, failure and seepage using the analytical module of fluid-structure interaction of FLAt：. We also obtained the corresponding stress distribution, deformation and flow vectors. Our results indi- cate that： （1） the advance of the working face causes water-resisting strata in goaf floors to form a deep double-clamped beam, subject to homogeneous loading at the bottom; （2） the two sides of the rock beam are subject 1~0 shear failure; （3） both sides of the rock seam at the bottom of the water-resisting strata are subject to tension and the greater the working face advance, the more serious the failure; C4） the original balance of the stress and seepage fields are broken and redistributed due to mining activities, especially the interaction of the abutment pressure in both sides of the goal; the lateral pressure on the goal floor and the water pressure on the floor of the aquifer promote floor heave and shear failure on both sides of the floor, forming a water-inrush passage. Our study results can provide references for the mechanism of water-inrush on mine floors.

Stable expression and control parameters in the numerical simulation of unsaturated flow

The Richards’equation describes the flow phenomenon in unsaturated porous media and is essential to hydrology and environmental science.This study evaluated the numerical stability of two different forms of the Richards’equation.Sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the control parameters of the equation.The results show that the h-form Richards’equation has better applicability for calculating variable saturation flows than theθ-form Richards’equation.For the h-form Richards’equation,the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the low-suction range and the specific moisture capacity in the high-suction range primarily influenced the solution.In addition,sensitivity analyses indicated that the saturated hydraulic conductivity,initial condition,and air-entry pressure have a higher sensitivity to the simulation results than the saturated water content,rainfall intensity,and decline rate of hydraulic conductivity.Moreover,their correctness needs to be guaranteed first in numerical simulations.The research findings can provide a helpful reference for improving the reliability of numerical simulations of unsaturated flows.

Formation of groundwater-induced damage in Zhu Yuelian’s tomb and protection methods

Zhu Yuelian’s tomb has been exposed to groundwater for many years,and this exposure has caused many defects,including erosion,encrustation,patina,and spot marks related to groundwater,seriously affecting the artistic and ornamental value of cultural relics.In this study,high-density microelectrode spacing resistivity and ultrasonic transverse wave reflection were used to detect hidden damage in the burial chamber,and the results revealed hidden damage,corrosion,cracks,and pores in the surrounding geological body,concealed cracks in the sidewalls,and internal defects in the columns.An outdoor high-density resistivity test and hydrological observation experiment indicated that the tomb is located in a weakly permeable aquifer,and the groundwater head has been higher than the bottom of the tomb for many years.Natural groundwater flows from northeast to southwest in the aquifer,and the tomb forms an artificial concave cone,causing groundwater around the area to continually flow into the tomb.A chemical composition analysis of the groundwater and scale revealed that the groundwater within the tomb area is slightly corrosive,and the groundwater seepage along the fissures of the compacted layer induces damage.The threedimensional(3D)seepage numerical simulation results indicated that the combined use of drainage and impervious curtains can cause the water head in the curtain to drop significantly and control the water head to be lower than 8 m from the bottom floor of the tomb,meeting the requirements for seepage prevention and protection of the tomb without long-term maintenance.