Groundwater flow through fractured rocks and seepage control in geotechnical engineering: Theories and practices

Groundwater flow through fractured rocks has been recognized as an important issue in many geotechnical engineering practices.Several key aspects of fundamental mechanisms,numerical modeling and engineering applications of flow in fractured rocks are discussed.First,the microscopic mechanisms of fluid flow in fractured rocks,especially under the complex conditions of non-Darcian flow,multiphase flow,rock dissolution,and particle transport,have been revealed through a com-bined effort of visualized experiments and theoretical analysis.Then,laboratory and field methods of characterizing hydraulic properties(e.g.intrinsic permeability,inertial permeability,and unsaturated flow parameters)of fractured rocks in different flow regimes have been proposed.Subsequently,high-performance numerical simulation approaches for large-scale modeling of groundwater flow in frac-tured rocks and aquifers have been developed.Numerical procedures for optimization design of seepage control systems in various settings have also been proposed.Mechanisms of coupled hydro-mechanical processes and control of flow-induced deformation have been discussed.Finally,three case studies are presented to illustrate the applications of the improved theoretical understanding,characterization methods,modeling approaches,and seepage and deformation control strategies to geotechnical engi-neering projects.

Impact of seepage flow on sediment resuspension by internal solitary waves:parameterization and mechanism

Sediment incipient motion is the first step in sediment resuspension.Previous studies ignored the effect of seepage flow on the mobility of sediment particles and simplified the seabed surface as a rigid boundary.A flume experiment was designed to innovatively divide the seabed into two parts to control the dynamic response of the seabed and control the seepage conditions.In the experiment,the seabed sediments and the amplitude of internal solitary waves(ISWs)were changed to compare and analyze the impact of seepage flow on the sediment resuspension by shoaling ISWs.Moreover,parametric research and verification were carried out.Results indicate that seepage flow can greatly influence fine sand,promote sediment resuspension,and increase the amount of suspension by two times on average.However,seepage flow had a little effect on the suspension of clayey silt and sandy silt.Besides,seepage force was added to the traditional gravity,drag force,and uplift force,and the parameterization of threshold starting shear stress of coarse-grained sediments was developed.The results of this parameterization were verified,and seepage force was critical to parameterization.The threshold starting shear stress was reduced by 54.6%after increasing the seepage force.The physical mechanism of this process corresponded to the vertical reciprocating transient seepage in and out the seabed interface caused by the wave-induced transient excess pore water pressure.This quantitative study on seepage flow for shear stress of coarse-grained sediments induced by ISWs is critical to geohazard assessment.

Vertical Migration of Fine-Grained Sediments from Interior to Surface of Seabed Driven by Seepage Flows–‘Sub-Bottom Sediment Pump Action'

A scientific hypothesis is proposed and preliminarily verified in this paper: under the driving of seepage flows, there might be a vertical migration of fine-grained soil particles from interior to surface of seabed, which is defined as ‘sub-bottom sediment pump action' in this paper. Field experiments were performed twice on the intertidal flat of the Yellow River delta to study this process via both trapping the pumped materials and recording the pore pressures in the substrate. Experimental results are quite interesting as we did observe yellow slurry which is mainly composed of fine-grained soil particles appearing on the seabed surface; seepage gradients were also detected in the intertidal flat, under the action of tides and small wind waves. Preliminary conclusions are that ‘sediment pump' occurs when seepage force exceeds a certain threshold: firstly, it is big enough to disconnect the soil particles from the soil skeleton; secondly, the degree of seabed fluidization or bioturbation is big enough to provide preferred paths for the detached materials to migrate upwards. Then they would be firstly pumped from interior to the surface of seabed and then easily re-suspended into overlying water column. Influential factors of ‘sediment pump' are determined as hydrodynamics(wave energy), degree of consolidation, index of bioturbation(permeability) and content of fine-grained materials(sedimentary age). This new perspective of ‘sediment pump' may provide some implications for the mechanism interpretation of several unclear geological phenomena in the Yellow River delta area.

Monitoring models for base flow effect and daily variation of dam seepage elements considering time lag effect

Affected by external environmental factors and evolution of dam performance, dam seepage behavior shows nonlinear time-varying characteristics. In this study, to predict and evaluate the long-term development trend and short-term fluctuation of the dam seepage behavior, two monitoring models were developed, one for the base flow effect and one for daily variation of dam seepage elements. In the first model, to avoid the influence of the time lag effect on the evaluation of seepage variation with the time effect component of seepage elements, the base values of the seepage element and the reservoir water level were extracted using the wavelet multi-resolution analysis method, and the time effect component was separated by the established base flow effect monitoring model. For the development of the daily variation monitoring model for dam seepage elements, all the previous factors, of which the measured time series prior to the dam seepage element monitoring time may have certain influence on the monitored results, were considered. Those factors that were positively correlated with the analyzed seepage element were initially considered to be the support vector machine(SVM) model input factors, and then the SVM kernel function-based sensitivity analysis was performed to optimize the input factor set and establish the optimized daily variation SVM model. The efficiency and rationality of the two models were verified by case studies of the water level of two piezometric tubes buried under the slope of a concrete gravity dam.Sensitivity analysis of the optimized SVM model shows that the influences of the daily variation of the upstream reservoir water level and rainfall on the daily variation of piezometric tube water level are processes subject to normal distribution.

Influence of underground water seepage flow on surrounding rock deformation of multi-arch tunnel

Based on a typical multi-arch tunnel in a freeway, the fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3 dimensions(FLAC3D) was used to calculate the surrounding rock deformation of the tunnel under which the effect of underground water seepage flow was taken into account or not. The distribution of displacement field around the multi-arch tunnel, which is influenced by the seepage field, was gained. The result indicates that the settlement values of the vault derived from coupling analysis are bigger when considering the seepage flow effect than that not considering. Through the contrast of arch subsidence quantities calculated by two kinds of computation situations, and the comparison between the calculated and measured value of tunnel vault settlement, it is found that the calculated value(5.7-6.0 mm) derived from considering the seepage effect is more close to the measured value(5.8-6.8 mm). Therefore, it is quite necessary to consider the seepage flow effect of the underground water in aquiferous stratum for multi-arch tunnel design.

Effect of Downward Seepage on Turbulent Flow Characteristics and Bed Morphology around Bridge Piers

In this work, experimental investigations have been pursued to analyse the influence of downward seepage on the turbulent characteristics of flow and corresponding changes in vortex structure around circular bridge pier in alluvial channel. Experiments were conducted in sand bed channel with circular piers of different sizes for no seepage, 10% seepage and 20% seepage cases. The measurement of turbulent flow statistics such as velocity and Reynolds stresses is found to be negative within the scour hole at upstream of the pier whereas application of downward seepage retards the reversal of the flow causing a decrement in the velocity and Reynolds stresses. Higher Reynolds shear stress prevails at the downstream side because of the production of wake vortices. Contribution of all bursting events to the total Reynolds shear stress production has been observed to increase with downward seepage. The analysis of integral scale suggest that size of eddies increases with seepage, which is responsible for increase in particle mobility. Initially rate of scouring is more which abatements gradually with expanding time as well as with the increased of downward seepage. Presence of downward seepage reduces the depth and length of vortex and shifts towards downstream side of the pier.

Experimental Study of Seepage Properties of Non-Darcy Flow in Granular Coal Gangues

By using the steady-state seepage method, a patent seepage device together with the MTS815.02 Rock Mechanics Test System is used to test the seepage properties of non-Darcy flow in a granular gangue with five different grain sizes during the compaction. The experimental results show that the seepage properties are not only related to the stress or displacement level, but also to the grain size, the pore structure of the granular gangue, and the current porosity The permeability and the non-Darcy flow coefficient can be fitted respectively by the cubic polynomials and the power functions of the porosity, Formally, the flow in granular gangue satisfies the Forchheimer＇s binomial flow, but under the great axial and confining pressure and owing to the grain＇s crushing, the flow in granular gangues is different from that in rock-fills which are naturallv oiled un. As a result, the non-Darer flow coefficient may be negative.

Numerical simulation of seepage flow field in groundwater source heat pump system and its influence on temperature field

Energy utilization in the aquifers is a new technology closely related to development of heat pump technique. It is significant for the flow distribution to be predicted in the aquifer surrounding the Groundwater Source Heat Pump System （GSHPS）. The authors presented a new concept of ＂flow transfixion＂ by analyzing general features of aquifers, and then discussed interaction of the flow transfixion with the beat transfixion, which has practical significance to projects. A numerical model of groundwater flow was established based on the basic tenets of water-heat transferring in the aquifer. On this basis the flow field and the temperature field of GSHPS for a site in Shenyang City were numerically simulated. The basis of the flow transfixion was obtained; it was discussed for the influence of the flow transfixion on the heat transfixion. To a certain extent, the study offers some reference for the projects＇ design of GSHP in the studied area.

RULE OF TRANSIENT PHREATIC FLOW SUBJECTED TO VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL SEEPAGE

In a semi-infinite aquifer bounded by a channel, a transient flow model is constructed for phreatic water subjected to vertical and horizontal seepage. Based on the first linearized Boussinesq equation, the analytical solution of the model is obtained by Laplace transform. Having proven the transformation between the analytical solution and some relevant classic formulas, suitable condition for each of these formulas is demonstrated. On the base of the solution, the variation of transient flow process caused by the variables, such as vertical infiltration intensity, fluctuation range of river stage, aquifer parameters such as transmissivity and specific yield, and the distance from calculating point to channel boundary, are analyzed quantitatively one by one. Lagging effect will happen to the time, when phreatic water gets its maximum fluctuation velocity, response to the varying of the variables stated above. The condition for some variables to form equivalent lagging effect is demonstrated. Corresponding to the mathematical charac teristics of the analytical solution, the physical implication and the fluctuation rule of groundwater level are discussed.

A well test analysis model of generalized tube flow and seepage coupling

"Generalized mobility"is used to realize the unification of tube flow and seepage in form and the unification of commonly used linear and nonlinear flow laws in form,which makes it possible to use the same form of motion equations to construct unified governing equations for reservoirs of different scales in different regions.Firstly,by defining the generalized mobility under different flow conditions,the basic equation governing fluid flow in reservoir coupling generalized tube flow and seepage is established.Secondly,two typical well test analysis models for coupling tube flow and seepage flow are given,namely,pipe-shaped composite reservoir model and partially open cylindrical reservoir model.The log-log pressure draw-down type-curve of composite pipe-shaped reservoir model can show characteristics of two sets of linear flow.The log-log pressure drawdown plot of partially opened cylindrical reservoir model can show the characteristics of spherical flow and linear flow,as well as spherical flow and radial flow.The pressure build-up derivative curves of the two models basically coincide with their respective pressure drawdown derivative curves in the early stage,pulling down features in the late stage,and the shorter the production time is,the earlier the pulling down feature appears.Finally,the practicability and reliability of the models presented in this paper are verified by three application examples.

THE ANALYTIC RESOLUTIONS AND APPLICATIONS OF THE NON－LINEAR SEEPAGE FLOW EQUATIONS OF COAL INFUSION

hi this paper. the author uses the theory of fluid mechanics. dynamics of fluids in Porous media. gas seepage flow in coal seams and combines the tests in the laboratory with the actual coal infusion to have an investigating and study from the theory to the mechanism of coal infusion to wet coal seams. through the analysis to the process of coal infusion the author builds up the mathematical models and has a detailed discussion to the boundary conditions of coal infusion. Because the equation sets to describe coal infusion are non-linear. we have made a simplification to them to use the dimension analysis theory by leading into the non-dimensions of water pressure of coal infusion, seepage flow rate. increment of coal seam moisture and so on Besides the analytic and approximate solutions have also been discussed. At last. we use the scientific research item of the actual coal infusion to illustrate the effects and importance of the theory to direct actual coal infusion and its designs.

A new classification of seepage control mechanisms in geotechnical engineering

Seepage flow through soils,rocks and geotechnical structures has a great influence on their stabilities and performances,and seepage control is a critical technological issue in engineering practices.The physical mechanisms associated with various engineering measures for seepage control are investigated from a new perspective within the framework of continuum mechanics;and an equation-based classification of seepage control mechanisms is proposed according to their roles in the mathematical models for seepage flow,including control mechanisms by coupled processes,initial states,boundary conditions and hydraulic properties.The effects of each mechanism on seepage control are illustrated with examples in hydroelectric engineering and radioactive waste disposal,and hence the reasonability of classification is demonstrated.Advice on performance assessment and optimization design of the seepage control systems in geotechnical engineering is provided,and the suggested procedure would serve as a useful guidance for cost-effective control of seepage flow in various engineering practices.

Seepage simulation of high concrete-faced rockfill dams based on generalized equivalent continuum model

This research focused on the three-dimensional(3 D) seepage field simulation of a high concrete-faced rockfill dam(CFRD) under complex hydraulic conditions. A generalized equivalent continuum model of fractured rock mass was used for equivalent continuous seepage field analysis based on the improved node virtual flow method. Using a high CFRD as an example, the generalized equivalent continuum range was determined, and a finite element model was established based on the terrain and geological conditions, as well as structural face characteristics of the dam area. The equivalent seepage coefficients of different material zones or positions in the dam foundation were calculated with the Snow model or inverse analysis. Then, the 3 D seepage field in the dam area was calculated under the normal water storage conditions, and the corresponding water head distribution, seepage flow, seepage gradient, and seepage characteristics in the dam area were analyzed. The results show that the generalized equivalent continuum model can effectively simulate overall seepage patterns of the CFRD under complex hydraulic conditions and provide a reference for seepage analysis of similar CFRDs.

A state‑of‑the‑art review on rock seepage mechanism of water inrush disaster in coal mines

Water inrush is one of the most dangerous disasters in coal mining.Due to the large-scale mining and complicated hydrogeological conditions,thousands of deaths and huge economic losses have been caused by water inrush disasters in China.There are two main factors determining the occurrence of water inrush:water source and water-conducting pathway.Research on the formation mechanism of the water-conducting pathway is the main direction to prevent and control the water inrush,and the seepage mechanism of rock mass during the formation of the water-conducting pathway is the key for the research on the water inrush mechanism.This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of seepage mechanisms during water inrush from three aspects,i.e.,mechanisms of stress-seepage coupling,fow regime transformation and rock erosion.Through numerical methods and experimental analysis,the evolution law of stress and seepage felds in the process of water inrush is fully studied;the fuid movement characteristics under diferent fow regimes are clearly summarized;the law of particle initiation and migration in the process of water inrush is explored,and the efect of rock erosion on hydraulic and mechanical properties of the rock media is also studied.Finally,some limitations of current research are analyzed,and the suggestions for future research on water inrush are proposed in this review.

Initiation and Development of Water Film by Seepage

When water seeps upwards through a saturated soil layer,the soil layer may become instability and water films occur and develop.Water film serves as a natural sliding surface because of its very small friction.Accordingly,debris flow may happen.To investigate this phenomenon,a pseudothree-phase media is presented first.Then discontinuity method is used to analyze the expansion velocity of water film.Finally,perturbation method is used to analyze the case that a water flow is forced to seep upwards through the soil layer while the movement of the skeleton may be neglected relative to that of water.The theoretical evolutions of pore pressure gradient,effective stress,water velocity,the porosity and the eroded fine grains are obtained.It can be seen clearly that with the erosion and redeposited of fine grains,permeability at some positions in the soil layer becomes smaller and smaller and,the pore pressure gradient becomes bigger and bigger,while the effective stress becomes smaller and smaller.When the effective stress equals zero,e.f.liquefaction,the water film occurs.It is shown also that once a water film occurs,it will be expanded in a speed of U(t)(1-ε).

Analysis and evaluation on seepage stability of Hongxing reservoir dam,Heilongjiang

Hongxing reservoir was constructed on the floodplain of Hulan River in Heilongjiang. The geological problem of the reservoir is the seepage of the dam base and its related seepage stability. The leakage of the reservoir is caused by the water head differences between the upstream and downstream of the dam. Severe seepage could decrease the engineering benefits of the reservoir. Moreover,infiltration function of water will influence the safety of the dam. Through the analysis on the granule constitute and the formation of the dam base,the types of the seepage failure apt to happen were defined and the anti-infiltration and the permissible depression ratio were determined. Using the numerical simulation software GMS,the two-dimension numerical modeling has been carried out to analyze the seepage field of the reservoir. Through the two conditions modeling with concrete impervious wall and no concrete impervious wall,the largest flow rate,single-wide seepage discharge and the max infiltration gradient of the dam base were calculated. According to the permeable depression ratio of the dam base,the seepage stability of Hongxing reservoir dam base was analyzed.

Effect of upward seepage on bedload transport rate

The paper presents an investigation of injection effects on the bedload transport rate. According to dimensional analysis, two dimensionless groups, an Einstein＇s parameter group and a modified densimetric Froude number group, were chosen to examine how injection affects the bedload transport rate. Experimental studies were conducted in an open-channel flume with an upward seepage zone. The sediment particles used for the test were 0.9 mm in diameter. The experimental results show that an increase in the injection velocity causes a reduction in the shear velocity excess, which is defined as the difference between the shear and critical shear velocities, leading to a reduction in the bedload transport rate. The equation for predicting the bedload transport rate in the presence of upward seepage was derived empirically. The proposed prediction method is suitable for engineering practice, since it only requires the undisturbed flow condition, properties of sediment particles, and the injection velocity.

Numerical Simulation of Oil and Gas Two-Phase Flow in Deep Condensate Gas Reservoirs in Bohai Buried Hills

The BZ19-6 gas field is characterized by high temperature and high pressure (HTHP), high condensate content, little difference between the formation pressure and dew point pressure, and large amount of reverse condensate liquid. During the early stage of depletion development, the production gas-oil ratio (GOR) and production capacity remain relatively stable, which is inconsistent with the conventional reverse condensate seepage law. In view of the static and dynamic conflict in development and production, indoor high-temperature and high-pressure PVT experiment was carried out to reveal the mist-like condensation phenomenon of fluids in the BZ19-6 formation. And the seepage characteristics of condensate gas reservoirs with various degrees of depletion under the condition of HTHP were analyzed based on production performance. The change rule of fluid phase state was analyzed in response to the characterization difficulties of the seepage mechanism. The fluid state was described using the miscible mechanism. And the interphase permeability interpolation coefficient was introduced based on interfacial tension. By doing so, the accurate characterization of the “single-phase flow of condensate gas-near-miscible mist-like quasi single-phase flow-oil-gas two-phase flow” during the development process was achieved. Then the accurate fitting of key indicators for oilfield development was completed, and the distribution law of formation pressure and the law of condensate oil precipitation under different reservoir conditions are obtained. Based on research results, the regulation strategy of variable flow rate production was developed. Currently, the work system has been optimized for 11 wells, achieving a “zero increase” in the GOS of the gas field and an annual oil increase of 22,000 cubic meters.

基于渗流作用下含断层的露天矿边坡稳定性的数值模拟研究

为研究含断层露天边坡在渗流作用下的稳定性问题,采用FLAC3D数值模拟技术构建断层作用下的滑体力学模型,获得顺倾层状边坡分条稳定系数表达式,进而对渗流作用下含断层边坡稳定性进行数值模拟分析。对岩体强度的弹性模量、内聚力、内摩擦角和岩体抗拉强度等4种影响因素进行敏感性分析,通过分析这4种因素在不同工况下边坡的位移、应力、应变和安全系数,得出了各参数的敏感性分析曲线。从敏感性分析曲线可知,岩体的内聚力对边坡稳定性的影响最大,弹性模量对边坡稳定性的影响最小。开挖不同阶段边坡稳定性的主要影响因素存在差别,其中,前期以断层为主,后期则逐渐转化为渗流作用。该研究为今后露天矿边坡稳定性分析提供了科学依据,对于边坡稳定性分析具有重大的工程实际意义。

考虑流体相变效应的粗糙裂隙非线性渗流换热机理

三维粗糙裂隙渗流换热机理的研究,对提升地下热储层的热提取率意义重大。当前,热开采过程中的多场耦合问题已取得了丰富的成果,但热开采过程中流体的相变作用对裂隙渗流特性及传热变化的影响却鲜有涉及。为剖析流体相变作用下的非线性渗流换热机理,以三维粗糙裂隙为研究对象,基于Fluent软件建立单相与多相流-热耦合模型,对比是否考虑相变作用的不同入口流速、入口温度和壁面温度时的局部换热系数分布特征。结果表明未考虑相变作用时,壁面局部粗糙程度控制局部换热系数的分布特征;基于Forchheimer公式,得知流体传热过程中非线性渗流特性显著。考虑相变作用后,流体呈现类似剪切稀释流体的特征,而气相体积分数则对系统换热过程起主导作用。因此,考虑流体的相变效应可以更准确地揭示热开采过程中的渗流特征和热提取效率的演化机理。