Seepage Coupling Research Articles

Experimental and numerical study of shear strength on the slide zone soil by the coupling of seepage and shear test

The stability of reservoir landslides is determined by the strength of the slide zone. Using both experimental and numerical techniques to analyze the strength of the slide zone has been widely used in the research of reservoir landslides. However, few models consider the strength of the coupling between seepage and shear. This paper aims to analyze the shear strength of slide zone soil combined with different stresses by using the directed shear test and particle flow code PFC2D. The results indicated that slide zone soil clearly experienced the strain-hardening without seepage. While a specific strain-softening phenomenon was observed because the introduction of seepage reduced the shear strength significantly, the internal friction angle demonstrated a higher sensitivity to seepage stress compared to cohesion as the seepage stress increased. The direction and amount of flow velocity dynamically alter during the shear process, as revealed by numerical simulation results, suggesting that the shear strength was nonlinear with increasing seepage stress and changed structure. It can be assumed that seepage deterioration in the Huangtupo landslide is a dynamic process that influences the structure, strength and permeability characteristics.

The time history of dynamic response of permeable asphalt mixture pavement based on PFC2D

To investigate the dynamic response of permeable asphalt mixture pavements, a discrete element model was developed using PFC2D under the coupling of seepage and stress fields. This study examines the excess pore water pressure and dynamic behavior of permeable asphalt mixture pavements under the coupling of seepage and stress fields. The findings indicate that the excess pore water pressure amplifies compressive strain and stress at the base of the permeable asphalt mixture over time, while exhibiting alternating positive and negative fluctuations as a roller traverses the pavement.

Seepage-heat accumulation characteristics and hydrothermal transport calculation model in mining-induced fractured rock mass: Implications for geothermal water control

The aim of this paper is to explore hydrothermal transport in surrounding rocks during deep mining, focusing on the mechanisms and key factors influencing groundwater seepage and heat accumulation disasters. Stress–seepage coupling tests were conducted on fractured rock mass with varying roughness under constant-pressure loading/unloading conditions. Also, a permeability model considering joint roughness coefficient and confining pressure was established. The study further examined the evolution of heat transfer in rough fractured rock mass and variations in convective heat transfer characteristics. The heat transfer process was observed to progress through stages of surge, attenuation, and stabilization. Two calculation models were developed using multivariate linear regression and random forest regression to quantify how different factors influenced water–rock convective heat transfer in mining-induced fractured rock mass. The average correlation coefficient R2 of the proposed models exceeded 0.95. The importance scores of osmotic pressure, inlet water temperature, rock temperature, and permeability were 0.417, 0.296, 0.223, and 0.065, respectively. The flow rate and water–rock temperature difference were determined to be the key factors influencing hydrothermal transport. This study enhanced the understanding of the hydrothermal migration mechanisms in surrounding rocks during mining and provided insights into geothermal water control.

A Hybrid Prediction Model for Rock Reservoir Bank Slope Deformation Considering Fractured Rock Mass Parameters

Deformation monitoring data provide a direct representation of the structural behavior of reservoir bank rock slopes, and accurate deformation prediction is pivotal for slope safety monitoring and disaster warning. Among various deformation prediction models, hybrid models that integrate field monitoring data and numerical simulations stand out due to their well-defined physical and mechanical concepts, and their ability to make effective predictions with limited monitoring data. The predictive accuracy of hybrid models is closely tied to the precise determination of rock mass mechanical parameters in structural numerical simulations. However, rock masses in rock slopes are characterized by intersecting geological structural planes, resulting in reduced strength and the creation of multiple fracture flow channels. These factors contribute to the heterogeneous, anisotropic, and size-dependent properties of the macroscopic deformation parameters of the rock mass, influenced by the coupling of seepage and stress. To improve the predictive accuracy of the hybrid model, this study introduces the theory of equivalent continuous media. It proposes a method for determining the equivalent deformation parameters of fractured rock mass considering the coupling of seepage and stress. This method, based on a discrete fracture network (DFN) model, is integrated into the hybrid prediction model for rock slope deformation. Engineering case studies demonstrate that this approach achieves a high level of prediction accuracy and holds significant practical value.

Investigating the Creep Damage and Permeability Evolution Mechanism of Phyllite Considering Non-Darcy’s Flow

This study investigates the intricate interplay of hydraulic coupling, creep damage, and permeability evolution mechanisms in phyllite, focusing on their relevance to tunnel engineering design and long-term stability in soft rock formations. To achieve this, conventional triaxial tests were conducted on saturated phyllite specimens under creep-seepage acoustic emission conditions. The results were systematically analyzed to unveil the inherent characteristics of creep deformation, seepage rate evolution, and damage progression in phyllite when subjected to stress–seepage coupling. Furthermore, a permeability model for representative volume element (RVE) was developed based on meso-mechanics principles, considering the distinctive attributes of low-permeability non-Darcy’s flow in rock. Consequently, a novel relationship between effective damage and permeability was established. We determined that seepage pressure induces three key effects on the creep damage mechanism of phyllite samples: (1) It adds to the existing stress through the superposition of osmotic pressure and axial load, (2) it induces tensile expansion stress because of pore water pressure, and (3) it softens the fracture surfaces to some extent. More importantly, this study validates the relationship between effective damage and permeability through the fitting of creep and damage parameters, which were obtained from the test results, and it reveals a square relationship between subsequent damage and permeability under stress conditions. The findings of this study provide a robust theoretical foundation for comprehending the evolution of damage and permeability characteristics during the creep process of rock under seepage conditions. We obtained essential insights and quantitative analyses for comprehending the damage mechanisms in rock creep under hydraulic coupling, which has significant implications for tunnel engineering and long-term rock stability assessments in soft rock environments.

Thermomechanical coupling seepage in fractured shale under stimulation of supercritical carbon dioxide

As a waterless fracturing fluids for gas shale stimulation with low viscosity and strong diffusibility, supercritical CO2 is promising than the water by avoiding the clay hydration expansion and reducing reservoir damage. The permeability evolution influenced by the changes of the temperature and stress is the key to gas extraction in deep buried shale reservoirs. Thus, the study focuses on the coupling influence of effective stress, temperature, and CO2 adsorption expansion effects on the seepage characteristics of Silurian Longmaxi shale fractured by supercritical CO2. The results show that when the gas pressure is 1–3 MPa, the permeability decreases significantly with the increase in gas pressure, and the Klinkenberg effects plays a predominant role at this stage. When the gas pressure is 3–5 MPa, the permeability increases with the increase in gas pressure, and the influence of effective stress on permeability is dominant. The permeability decreases exponentially with the increase in effective stress. The permeability of shale after the adsorption of CO2 gas is significantly lower than that of before adsorption; the permeability decreases with the increase in temperature at 305.15 K–321.15 K, and with the increase in temperature, the permeability sensitivity to the temperature decreases. The permeability is closely related to supercritical CO2 injection pressure and volume stress; when the injection pressure of supercritical CO2 is constant, the permeability decreases with the increase in volume stress. The results can be used for the dynamic prediction of reservoir permeability and gas extraction in CO2-enhanced shale gas development.

Desorption Strain Kinetics of Gas-Bearing Coal based on Thermomechanical Diffusion–Seepage Coupling

Desorption Strain Kinetics of Gas-Bearing Coal based on Thermomechanical Diffusion–Seepage Coupling

Thermal-hydro coupling model of methane hydrate reformation in porous media

Methane hydrates are crystalline compounds found in marine sediments and permafrost regions. Methane hydrates remain stable under both low-temperature and high-pressure conditions. When a methane hydrate reservoir is heated or depressurized, methane hydrates become unstable and decompose into water and methane gases. The heat absorption process during the decomposition of methane hydrates influences the temperature field. Methane hydrate reformation occurs during the extraction process, significantly reducing the hydraulic conductivity of the reservoir and hindering the long-term stable extraction of methane hydrates. In this paper, a numerical model is established by coupling seepage and heat processes. The temperature variation owing to the heat absorption process of methane hydrate decomposition is quantified based on the proposed model. The effect of spatial lithology on methane hydrate conversion is also analyzed, and the results for hydrate, water, gas, and permeability in the model are summarized. The numerical model also reflects the heterogeneity of marine sediments. Finally, the sensitivities of different physical parameters (permeability and porosity) and pressure gradients to the reformation rate of methane hydrate reforming are discussed. The results of this study provide scientific data supporting the influence of secondary hydrate formation on long-term extraction efficiency in the actual engineering hydrate extraction process.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Coupled Seepage and Thermal Conduction Effects in Earth-Rock Dams

Thermodynamic Analysis of Coupled Seepage and Thermal Conduction Effects in Earth-Rock Dams

Experimental study on damage evolution process, seepage characteristics, and energy response of columnar jointed basalt under true triaxial cyclic loading

The physical response of Columnar Jointed Basalt (CJB) under a stress–seepage coupling field is of great significance for dam safety and oil and gas reservoir evaluation. A true triaxial experimental machine was used for investigating the deformation, damage evolution characteristics, seepage properties, and energy response of the CJB. Before the start of the test, a series of uniaxial compression tests were used to determine the ratio of similar materials, and the cyclic loading test results indicate that: The strength characteristics of CJB decreases slowly and then increases rapidly as the dip angle β varies from 0° to 90° under two loading conditions of the tiered cyclic loading (T–C) and the constant amplitude cyclic loading (CA–C), showing an obvious U–shaped trend, and four different loading stages can be distinguished by characteristic stress. In the yield stage, the stress–strain curve shows an obvious plastic hysteresis loop, there is a strong correlation between the failure modes of the CJB and β of the specimen, the joint surface gradually deteriorates owing to loading and unloading conditions, and structural control failure occurs widely in specimens. The damage evolution process is discussed in combination with the Load–Unloading Response Ratio, and the relative damage amount (Df) is defined by cycle index. The permeability–axial stress relationship of the specimen conforms to the power exponential relationship, and the permeability evolution characteristics are strongly correlated with the degree of damage. The energy response of the CJB were investigated by tress–strain curve, under two loading modes, T–C and CA–C, the cumulative curves of dissipation energy Ed can be fitted by an exponential function and a logarithmic function, respectively. The findings of this research hold immense importance for clarifying the mechanical and seepage properties of CJB under a stress–seepage coupling field.

Impact of Fracture–Seepage–Stress Coupling on the Sustainability and Durability of Concrete: A Triaxial Seepage and Mechanical Strength Analysis

As an indispensable material in construction and engineering, concrete’s mechanical properties and permeability are crucial for structures’ stability and durability. In order to reasonably assess and improve the durability of fracture-containing concrete structures and to enhance the sustainable working life of concrete structures, this research investigated the seepage characteristics of fracture-containing concrete and its mechanical property deterioration under fracture–seepage coupling by testing the permeability and strength of concrete samples before and after water penetration using triaxial seepage test and mechanical strength test. The results show that the fracture–seepage coupling action significantly affects the permeability characteristics and mechanical strength of fracture-containing concrete. In particular, the strength of concrete samples containing a single fracture decreased with increased fracture angle, with a maximum decrease of 32.8%. The fracture–seepage–stress coupling significantly reduced the strength of the fracture-containing concrete samples, which was about twice as much as the strength of the no-fracture concrete samples. Different fracture angles affect the mode of fracture expansion and damage (The fracture angle varies from small to large, and the damage form of concrete changes from tensile damage to tensile–shear composite damage). Moreover, the coupling effect of fracture–seepage–stress will further increase fracture-containing concrete’s fragmentation in the damage process. Therefore, improving the seepage and fracture resistance of concrete plays a vital role in improving the sustainable working life of concrete structures.

Study on waterproof and drainage technology of mountain tunnel in high-pressure and water-rich region

High-pressure groundwater brings great challenges to the construction of mountain tunnels. Hence, controlling and discharging groundwater are two key problems that must be addressed before constructing tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region. Fluid–solid coupling seepage analysis method is used to analyze the variation of displacement, stress and pore water pressure of the tunnel. A waterproof and drainage method suitable for tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region is proposed. Curtain grouting plays a dual role in waterproof and reinforcing surrounding rock. Decompression drainage holes are designed in order to further reduce the pore water pressure acting on the initial lining. The thickness of grouting circle, the permeability coefficient ratio and the decompression drainage holes distribution rate of the initial lining are the main factors that affect the waterproof and drainage effect of tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region. Suggested parameters on waterproof and drainage measures for tunnels in high-pressure and water-rich region are given after comprehensive analysis, which can provide basis for the technology on high-pressure groundwater treatments and constructions of underground engineering under complex geological conditions.

A comparative analysis of the performance of backfill heat exchangers in deep mine geological environments

With the increase of mineral mining depth, the technologies of constructing heat exchanger in stopes to exploit geothermal resources from deep mines have received great attention. The heat extraction capacities of heat exchangers are closely related to the geological environments of deep mines, especially backfill mines. Therefore, a three-dimensional unsteady heat transfer and seepage coupling model of backfill heat exchangers (BFHEs) is created and verified in this work using COMSOL simulation software. Then, the influences of geological environments, involving groundwater seepage, initial temperature and thermal conductivity of surrounding rock etc., on the ability of five BFHEs with the equal buried tube length to extract heat in different configurations are investigated by this model. The findings indicate that groundwater flow can significantly improve the performance of BFHEs. Double-layer tube BFHEs have the best overall performance in the studied seepage velocity range. Only when there is no or little seepage is the performance of single-layer tube BFHEs equivalent to that of double-layer tube BFHEs. The heat extraction capacity of BFHEs is greatly improved under seepage conditions with the increase in the initial temperature of surrounding rock, although the impact is low in the absence of groundwater seepage. The benefit of backfill body's thermal conductivity on BFHEs' ability to transport heat is significantly greater than that of surrounding rock, but the effect becomes smaller as the value increases. Further increasing the thermal conductivity of the backfill body will not considerably increase the heat extraction capability of BFHEs after it reaches 2.5 (W·m−1·K−1). Therefore, if the cost is too high, continued enhancement is not recommended. The findings offer theoretical recommendations for optimizing BFHEs’ setup to better adapt to deep mine geological environments and increase geothermal extraction capability.

A Study on the Permeability and Damage Characteristics of Limestone under Stress–Seepage Coupling Conditions

With the increase in energy demand, energy engineering has gradually developed to go deeper, accompanied by a complex geological environment, such as the coupling of stress and seepage. Limestone is widely found in underground rock engineering, and its stress–seepage coupling characteristics have a great influence on the safety and stability of related engineering projects. In order to study the permeability characteristics and damage evolution of limestone during the deformation and failure process under stress–seepage coupling conditions, permeability and acoustic emission tests on limestone were performed in this paper. The results showed that: the stress–strain curve demonstrated periodicity, as did the permeability change. The change in permeability in different deformation stages of axial strain and lateral strain was similar, but it was more appropriate to reflect the permeability evolution in terms of lateral strain. The permeability of the limestone slightly decreased in the volumetric compression stage, and tended to saturate after a sudden increase in the expansion stage. The presence of the confining pressure reduced the permeability of the rock. In the process of limestone deformation and failure, the level of acoustic emission activity can reflect the degree of fracture development. The permeability characteristics and acoustic emission characteristics had a good corresponding relationship. The greater the confining pressure, the higher the acoustic emission activity. The deformation and damage process of limestone experienced three stages: damage stable growth, damage acceleration development, and damage saturation.

Field Test and Structural Stability Analysis of Multi-stage Slope Based on Seepage Coupling Theory

This study takes the slope engineering of the Guangdong North Expressway as the background, and studies the impact of rainfall infiltration on the stability of high slopes through on-site monitoring, data analysis, and model construction. Firstly, based on BC theory, the mechanical calculation model of landslide rainfall is established, and the mechanical formula of slope mechanical properties and Factor of safety considering rainfall process and rainfall infiltration process is derived. Then, by constructing a Fluid–structure interaction numerical calculation model considering the seepage characteristics and mechanical state evolution of the slope, the movement of pore water in the slope under different rainfall intensities and the evolution of the mechanical state and displacement characteristics of the slope were studied. Research has found that the mechanical and numerical calculation models in this article are highly consistent with the actual site conditions, and there may be two potential sliding surfaces in the K738+995 section. The potential sliding surface of K738+910 section is located at a depth of 7 m below the first level platform and 3 m below the third level platform; There may be two potential sliding surfaces in K738+658 section, one is located at the interface between silty clay and sandy clay (9 m below the top of cutting), and the other is mainly located at the interface between sandy clay and completely weathered andesite porphyrite; The surface layer of the slope is silty clay and sandy clay, and the underlying layer is fully strongly weathered andesite porphyrite and moderately weathered dacite. Completely strongly weathered andesite porphyrite is soft, easy to soften and disintegrate when encountering water, and joint fissures are developed. The surface of some cracks is contaminated with iron and manganese, resulting in uneven weathering. The rock is relatively soft and the rock mass is broken. Due to the recent continuous heavy rainfall, the water content of the surface soil of the slope gradually increases and tends to saturation, increasing the self-weight of the slope soil.

Permeability evolution and pore characteristics of reactive powder concrete of drilling shaft with initial salt erosion damage

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between permeability properties and pore characteristics of reactive powder concrete (RPC) of drilling shaft under the coupling effect of high-salinity underground water pressure and surrounding rock pressure. Stress–seepage coupling tests were performed on the RPC specimens with standard curing and autoclave curing (prepared using the same mix ratio) after composite salt damage erosion. The characteristics of initial absolute permeability and permeability evolution of RPC in the entire process of volume deformation were analyzed accordingly. Then, computed tomography and AVIZO software were used to construct a three-dimensional meso-equivalent pore network model of RPC. The model was used to analyze the spatial pore structure characteristics of both RPC specimen groups. The results showed that during volume deformation and failure, the permeability of RPC exhibited three stages along with the volume strain: obviously decreasing, sharply rising, and tending to be stable. The larger porosity and more seepage channels in the RPC matrix increased its permeability. Additionally, the pore structure obtained by three-dimensional reconstruction simulation showed that the pore throat area of the RPC specimens with standard curing and autoclave curing ranged from 0 to 11.40 mm2 and 0 to 1.35 mm2, respectively. The size distribution range of their pore throat was 1–8 mm and 1–4 mm, respectively. The research results can accelerate the application of RPC in building drilling shaft structures.

Study on hydro-mechanical-damage coupling seepage in digital shale cores: A case study of shale in Bohai Bay Basin

Study on hydro-mechanical-damage coupling seepage in digital shale cores: A case study of shale in Bohai Bay Basin

A Coupled Seepage–Deformation Model for Simulating the Effect of Fracture Seepage on Rock Slope Stability Using the Numerical Manifold Method

Modeling seepage problems in rock fractures is an interesting research approach to evaluating rock slope instability that is attracting increasing attention. In the present study, a coupled seepage–deformation model based on the numerical manifold method (NMM) is proposed, and the flow of groundwater in a fracture network coupled with the effects of seepage pressure and rock deformation are discussed. A global equilibrium equation of the system and a local factor of safety (FoS) of arbitrary rock fractures are derived based on the principle of minimum energy, and a series of verification examples are calculated. The simulation results show the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed numerical model. Finally, a rock slope collapse accident caused by seepage effects is simulated by the proposed method, and the failure process of the slope is reproduced. The simulation results show that excessive hydraulic pressure caused the vertical fractures to open and augmented the rock mass deformation, eventually leading to the failure of the slope. The proposed method possesses the potential to simulate larger-scale engineering problems.

Study on the Aperture Evolution Law and Seepage Mechanism of 3D Rough Structure Plane under the Shear–Seepage Coupling Test

In order to study the mechanical characteristics and seepage mechanism of the structural plane under the action of seepage water pressure, the shear–seepage coupling test was carried out. It was found that with an increase in seepage water pressure, the peak shear strength, and shear stiffness of the structural plane decreased, while the peak dilatancy angle, average dilatancy angle, peak shear displacement, initial flow rate, and peak flow rate increased. The profile JRC and 3D morphology parameters under different Y values increased as seepage water pressure increased, indicating that the wear degree of the structural plane decreased. The contact area, effective aperture, average aperture, and hydraulic aperture of the structural plane all increased in phase with the increase in shear displacement, and they all increased in trend with the increase in seepage water pressure. The distribution and evolution law of the structural plane aperture were analyzed by programming using scanning point cloud data and the normal displacement value of the structure plane. It was concluded that the aperture gradually increased with the increase in seepage water pressure.

Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis for water inrush of fractured rock masses using the discontinuous deformation analysis

Water inrush is one of the most frequent geohazards during tunnel or mining excavation, and the study of the water-resisting stratum is of great significance in mitigating and preventing this disaster. Aiming at the fractured water-resisting rock mass ahead of the tunnel face, the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) coupled hydro-mechanical method was adopted to shed light on the failure process of the water-resisting stratum. The coupled method was implemented, including introducing single fracture flow equations, assembling the global conductivity equation, coupling seepage force, and updating the discrete fracture network. Then, after validating the coupled method by comparing the numerical results with theoretical solutions and experimental measurements, a real inrush case of Yonglian tunnel in a water-rich fault fracture zone was simulated to study the influence of the thickness of the water-resisting structure, stratum stress, and seepage force on the evolution characteristic of the geohazard. The simulation results could well depict the failure mechanism of the water-resisting structure, and the obtained results considering the progressive damage were more correspond to practice than those based on continuous assumption, showing the capacity of the coupled method for studying practical engineering geohazards.