Numerical Simulation and Performance Assessment of Seepage Control Effect on the Fractured Surrounding Rock of the Wunonglong Underground Powerhouse
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20, Issue 12
Abstract
Seepage control is a key technical problem in large-scale underground cavern engineering, and seepage analysis plays an important role in realizing engineering optimization design and safety. The long-term seepage control effect of a complex seepage control system on the fractured surrounding rock in the Wunonglong underground powerhouse was investigated by using a finite-element numerical model. The permeability of the fractured rock mass was characterized by using a combination of statistical methods and a field water-pressure test. Seepage behavior was modeled in consideration of the complex seepage control system by using the variational inequality formulation of Signorini’s type and the substructure method for dense drainage holes. A global model of equivalent modeling and a submodel of accurate modeling were combined to reduce the difficulty in mesh generation and to balance calculation time with modeling accuracy. The seepage control effect and its sensitivity to the layout of the seepage control system were comprehensively illustrated based on the numerical results. The validity and reliability of the numerical model were verified via in situ measurements. The rationality of the seepage control system for the fractured surrounding rock in the Wunonglong underground powerhouse and its potential for further optimization were discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51909215); Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (Program No. 2020JQ-641); Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (Program No. 19JS047); Young Talent fund of University Association for Science and Technology in Shaanxi, China (Program No. 20200417); and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51722907 and 51979224).
References
Alt, H. W. 1980. “Numerical solution of steady state porous flow free boundary problems.” Numer. Math. 36 (1): 73–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01395990.
Bathe, K. J. 2003. Vol. 1 of Adina theory and modeling guide, 399–417. Watertown, WA: Adina R&D.
Bathe, K. J., and M. R. Khoshgoftaar. 1979. “Finite element free surface seepage analysis without mesh iteration.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 3 (1): 13–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.1610030103.
Borja, R. I., and S. S. Kishnani. 1991. “On the solution of elliptic free boundary problems via Newton’s method.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 88 (3): 341–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(91)90094-M.
Cha, S. S., G. O. Bae, K. K. Lee, D. H. Lee, and J. L. Bodin. 2008. “Evaluation of drainage system around a lined pilot cavern for underground cryogenic LNG storage.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 23 (4): 360–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2007.06.004.
Chen, S. H., and I. Shahrour. 2008. “Composite element method for the bolted discontinuous rock masses and its application.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 45 (3): 384–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2007.07.002.
Chen, S. H., L. L. Xue, G. S. Xu, and I. Shahrour. 2010a. “Composite element method for the seepage analysis of rock masses containing fractures and drainage holes.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 47 (5): 762–770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2010.03.011.
Chen, Y. F., R. Hu, C. Zhou, D. Li, and G. Rong. 2011. “A new parabolic variational inequality formulation of Signorini’s condition for non-steady seepage problems with complex seepage control systems.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 35 (9): 1034–1058. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.944.
Chen, Y. F., H. Ran, C. Zhou, D. Li, G. Rong, and Q. Jiang. 2010b. “A new classification of seepage control mechanisms in geotechnical engineering.” J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng. 2 (3): 209–222. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1235.2010.00209.
Chen, Y. F., H. K. Zheng, M. Wang, J. M. Hong, and C. B. Zhou. 2015. “Excavation-induced relaxation effects and hydraulic conductivity variations in the surrounding rocks of a large-scale underground powerhouse cavern system.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 49: 253–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.05.007.
Chen, Y. F., C. Zhou, and H. Zheng. 2008. “A numerical solution to seepage problems with complex drainage systems.” Comput. Geotech. 35 (3): 383–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2007.08.005.
Coli, N., G. Pranzini, A. Alfi, and V. Boerio. 2008. “Evaluation of rock-mass permeability tensor and prediction of tunnel inflows by means of geostructural surveys and finite element seepage analysis.” Eng. Geol. 101 (3–4): 174–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.05.002.
Desai, C. S. 1976. “Finite element residual schemes for unconfined flow.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 10 (6): 1415–1418. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1620100622.
Desai, C. S., and B. Baseghi. 1988. “Theory and verification of residual flow procedure for 3-D free surface seepage.” Adv. Water Resour. 11 (4): 192–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1708(88)90033-4.
Desai, C. S., and G. C. Li. 1983. “A residual flow procedure and application for free surface flow in porous media.” Adv. Water Resour. 6 (1): 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1708(83)90076-3.
Desai, C. S., and W. C. Sherman. 1971. “Unconfined transient seepage in sloping banks.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 97 (2): 357–373.
Fipps, G., R. W. Skaggs, and J. L. Nieber. 1986. “Drains as a boundary condition in finite elements.” Water Resour. Res. 22 (11): 1613–1621. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR022i011p01613.
Ghobadi, M. H., G. R. Khanlari, and H. Djalaly. 2005. “Seepage problems in the right abutment of the Shahid Abbaspour dam, southern Iran.” Eng. Geol. 82 (2): 119–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.09.002.
Hong, J. M., Y. F. Chen, M. M. Liu, and C. B. Zhou. 2017. “Inverse modelling of groundwater flow around a large-scale underground cavern system considering the excavation-induced hydraulic conductivity variation.” Comput. Geotech. 81: 346–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.09.008.
Huang, F., H. Zhu, S. Jiang, and B. Liang. 2017. “Excavation-damaged zone around tunnel surface under different release ratios of displacement.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (4): 04016094. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000752.
Jafari, A., and T. Babadagli. 2012. “Estimation of equivalent fracture network permeability using fractal and statistical network properties.” J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 92–93: 110–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2012.06.007.
Li, P., W. Lu, Y. Long, Z. Yang, and J. Li. 2008. “Seepage analysis in a fractured rock mass: The upper reservoir of Pushihe pumped-storage power station in China.” Eng. Geol. 97 (1–2): 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.12.005.
Li, Y., Y. Chen, Q. Jiang, R. Hu, and C. Zhou. 2014. “Performance assessment and optimization of seepage control system: A numerical case study for Kala underground powerhouse.” Comput. Geotech. 55: 306–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2013.09.013.
Moreira, N., T. Miranda, M. Pinheiro, P. Fernandes, D. Dias, L. Costa, and J. Sena-Cruz. 2013. “Back analysis of geomechanical parameters in underground works using an evolution strategy algorithm.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 33: 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2012.08.011.
Park, B. Y., K. S. Kim, S. Kwon, C. Kim, D. S. Bae, L. J. Hartley, and H. K. Lee. 2002. “Determination of the hydraulic conductivity components using a three-dimensional fracture network model in volcanic rock.” Eng. Geol. 66 (1–2): 127–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(02)00037-6.
Unal, B., E. Mucahit, and M. G. Yalcin. 2007. “Investigation of leakage at Ataturk dam and hydroelectric power plant by means of hydrometric measurements.” Eng. Geol. 93 (1–2): 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.02.006.
Westbrook, D. R. 1985. “Analysis of inequality and residual flow procedures and an iterative scheme for free surface seepage.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 21 (10): 1791–1802. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1620211006.
Wierzbicki, M. 2013. “The relationship between rock fracturing and methane inflow into the drainage holes on the basis of coal mine measurements.” Arch. Min. Sci. 58 (1): 21–36. https://doi.org/10.2478/amsc-2013-0002.
Xu, Z., C. Cao, K. Li, J. Chai, W. Xiong, J. Zhao, and R. Qin. 2019a. “Simulation of drainage hole arrays and seepage control analysis of the Qingyuan Pumped Storage Power Station in China: A case study.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 78 (8): 6335–6346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01527-w.
Xu, Z., Y. Liu, J. Huang, L. Wen, and J. Chai. 2019b. “Performance assessment of the complex seepage-control system at the Lu Dila Hydropower Station in China.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (3): 05018010. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001363.
You, S., and K. J. Bathe. 2015. “Transient solution of 3D free surface flows using large time steps.” Comput. Struct. 158: 346–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruc.2015.06.011.
Zheng, H., D. F. Liu, C. F. Lee, and L. G. Tham. 2005. “A new formulation of Signorini’s type for seepage problems with free surfaces.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 64 (1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.1345.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20 • Issue 12 • December 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 23, 2020
Accepted: Aug 5, 2020
Published online: Oct 8, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Mar 8, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.