Numerical simulation on mining-induced water inrushes related to geologic structures using a damage-based hydromechanical model

A large number of statistics indicate that water inrush has a direct relationship with geological structures such as fault and karst collapse columns. Understanding the mechanism of water inrushes controlled by geologic structures is of vital importance for adopting effective measures to prevent their occurrence. The work begins with formulization of a damage-based hydromechanical model based on elastic damage theory. Next, the model is numerically implemented with finite element method by employing a finite element package called COMSOL Multiphysics, and is also validated against some existing experimental observations. Finally, the model is used to simulate the mining-induced groundwater inrushes when the effect of faults and karst collapse columns is considered in the numerical simulation, and some suggestive conclusions for preventing water inrushes and optimizing underground mining operations are drawn.

[1]  Ravendra Singh,et al.  Study of Mine Water Inrush from Floor Strata through Faults , 2001 .

[2]  Z. Wanfang.  The formation of sinkholes in karst mining areas in China and some methods of prevention , 1997, The Engineering Geology and Hydrology of Karst Terrains.

[3]  Y. Zhou,et al.  A coupled thermoporoelastic model with thermo-osmosis and thermal-filtration , 1998 .

[4]  Stress Analysis of a Borehole in Saturated Rocks Under in situ Mechanical, Hydrological and Thermal Interactions , 2007 .

[5]  C. A. Tang,et al.  Coupled analysis of flow, stress and damage (FSD) in rock failure , 2002 .

[6]  Chun’an Tang,et al.  Micromechanical Model for Simulating the Fracture Process of Rock , 2004 .

[7]  J.-A. Wang,et al.  Fluid permeability of sedimentary rocks in a complete stress–strain process , 2002 .

[8]  Mingyu Wang,et al.  Investigations of groundwater bursting into coal mine seam floors from fault zones , 2004 .

[9]  C. Tsang,et al.  A study of caprock hydromechanical changes associated with CO2-injection into a brine formation , 2002 .

[10]  Raghu N Singh,et al.  Studies in the prediction of water inflows to longwall mine workings , 1986 .

[11]  Gongyu Li,et al.  Impact of karst water on coal mining in North China , 2006 .

[12]  A. Petukhov,et al.  Primary and remote fracture around underground cavities , 1991 .

[13]  Baohong Shen,et al.  Coal mining under aquifers in China: a case study , 2004 .

[14]  Hyeong-Dong Park,et al.  Coal mining above a confined aquifer , 2003 .

[15]  Suping Peng,et al.  Water inrush and environmental impact of shallow seam mining , 2005 .

[16]  Qiang Wu,et al.  Characterization of water bursting and discharge into underground mines with multilayered groundwater flow systems in the North China coal basin , 2006 .