Numerical investigation of groundwater outbursts near faults in underground coal mines

Permeable geologic faults in the coal seam can cause intermittent production problems or unexpected amounts of groundwater outburst from the underlying aquifers. With the acknowledgment of the basic mechanism for groundwater outbursts, the groundwater outburst along the fault zones in coal mines are numerically investigated using RFPA, a numerical code based on FEM. The fracture initiation, propagation, and coalescence in the stressed strata and the seepage field evolution in the stress field are represented visually during the whole process of groundwater outburst. The numerically obtained damage evolution shows that the floor strata could be classified as three zones, i.e. mining induced fracture zone, intact zone and fault reactivation zone, in which the intact zone is the key part for resisting groundwater outburst and directly determines the effective thickness of water-resisting rock layer. With understanding of the evolution of stress field and seepage flow in floor strata, the groundwater outburst pathway is calibrated and the transformation of floor rock mass from water-resisting strata to outburst pathway is clearly illuminated. Moreover, it is shown that geometrical configuration, including inclination angle of faults and seam drop along faults, have an important influence on groundwater outburst. Finally, based on geological, hydrogeology survey and numerical results, the mechanism analysis of groundwater outburst in an engineering case is studied, which can provide significantly meaningful guides for the investigation on mechanism and prevention of groundwater outburst induced by faults in practice.     

逆序断裂的发育特征与地震反射识别

在具有盆地基底和未固结盖层的双层结构的盆地里,由于松散盖层对基底断裂应变的吸收,晚期发育的基底断裂在进入盖层后,应变会逐渐减小甚至消失,形成下部错动大、上部错动小的特点,本文把这样的后期断裂称之为逆序断裂。当基底断裂为走滑断裂时,逆序断裂具有双层空间构造样式,即在盆地基底发育主干走滑断裂、而在盖层优先发育另外走向的次级雁行断裂。逆序断裂在渤海湾盆地普遍发育,本文以歧口凹陷的张北断裂带和白水头断裂带为例(这两处断裂带都在下构造层发育北东向基底走滑断裂、而在上构造层发育近东西向盖层次级正断裂),运用三维地震资料,结合沿层属性和垂直剖面,阐述了逆序断裂的发育特征和对地震反射剖面的识别。由于之前晚期的逆序断裂一般被当作早期同沉积生长断裂对待,本文希望能帮助重新认识渤海湾地区的区域断裂期次和构造发育演化过程。     

逆序断裂的发育特征与地震反射识别

在具有盆地基底和未固结盖层的双层结构的盆地里,由于松散盖层对基底断裂应变的吸收,晚期发育的基底断裂在进入盖层后,应变会逐渐减小甚至消失,形成下部错动大、上部错动小的特点,本文把这样的后期断裂称之为逆序断裂。当基底断裂为走滑断裂时,逆序断裂具有双层空间构造样式,即在盆地基底发育主干走滑断裂、而在盖层优先发育另外走向的次级雁行断裂。逆序断裂在渤海湾盆地普遍发育,本文以歧口凹陷的张北断裂带和白水头断裂带为例（这两处断裂带都在下构造层发育北东向基底走滑断裂、而在上构造层发育近东西向盖层次级正断裂）,运用三维地震资料,结合沿层属性和垂直剖面,阐述了逆序断裂的发育特征和对地震反射剖面的识别。由于之前晚期的逆序断裂一般被当作早期同沉积生长断裂对待,本文希望能帮助重新认识渤海湾地区的区域断裂期次和构造发育演化过程。     

Numerical investigation of the gel barrier formation with vertical injection pipe

Permeation grouting is the injection of a fluid grout into ground and production of a solidified mass to carry increased load and/or fill voids to control water flow. This study examined a technology of constructing horizontal gel barrier by the permeation grouting through multiple vertical injection pipes. Colloidal Silica (CS) solution was used as a gelling liquid to be injected and solidified in the unsaturated soil. Formation of a gel bulb was simulated and the results were compared with those obtained from the sleeve pipe injection with horizontal pipes. The gel bulb generated from the injection method employing vertical pipe showed greater sensitivity of the bulb’s lateral extent to variations in operating conditions compared to the sleeve pipe injection. Although in the limited numbers, in all examined cases, the vertical-pipe system appeared to consume a larger volume of CS solution than the horizontal-pipe system to form an equivalent horizontal gel barrier. This result supports our intuition that the injection with the horizontal pipes may be more effective than the one with vertical pipes in constructing horizontal gel barrier.     

Growth of vertically segmented normal faults

The geometry and evolution of vertically segmented normal faults, with dip separations of < ca 11.5 m have been studied in a coastal outcrop of finely bedded Cretaceous chalk at Flamborough Head, U.K. Fault trace segments are separated by both contractional and extensional offsets which have step, overlap or bend geometries. The location of fault trace offsets is strongly controlled by lithology occurring at either thin (ca 1 mm-8 cm) and mechanically weak marl layers or partings between chalk units. Fault segmentation occurred during either fault nucleation within, or propagation through, the strongly anisotropic lithological sequence. An inverse relationship between fault displacement and number of offsets per length of fault trace reflects the progressive destruction of offsets during fault growth. The preservation of fault offsets is therefore dependent on offset width and fault displacement. Fault rock, comprising gouge and chalk breccia, may vary in thickness by 1.5–2.0 orders of magnitude on individual fault traces. Strongly heterogeneous fault rock distributions are most common on small faults (< 10 cm displacement) and are produced mainly by destruction of fault offsets. Shearing of fault rock with increasing displacement gives rise to a more homogeneous fault rock distribution on large faults at the outcrop scale.     

正断层与逆断层错动引起的上覆黏土变形特性离心试验

采用土工离心机试验,研究正断层和逆断层错动引起上覆饱和黏土层在20步连续断层错动作用下的变形特性以及裂缝扩展的规律。研究结果显示,正断层错动后地表呈现多条且平行断层面的张拉裂缝,随着错动量的增大,正断层破裂逐渐偏离基岩断层的错动方向,偏向上盘一侧,裂缝逐渐向上盘的方向开裂,裂缝主要发生在断层延长线附近;逆断层错动后地表裂缝均分布在上盘,而且离断层尖端延长线较远,产生的裂缝较细、数量较少,随着断层错动量的增大,地表位移增大,靠近断层下盘一侧的地表受断层错动影响较小,位于断层上盘一侧的地表则随着断层错动显著移动;随着断层错动量的增大,最大地表坡度随之增大,正断层引起的最大坡度的位置逐渐向上盘方向移动,逆断层引起的最大坡度的位置逐渐向下盘方向移动,逆断层的影响范围比正断层的影响范围更广。     

正断层控制下冲积扇沉积过程与沉积构型模拟实验

正断层构造广泛发育于盆地内和造山带中,其对可容空间分配及沉积物分布具有明显的控制作用,从而影响了冲积扇形态。为进一步探究正断层构造对冲积扇沉积过程及其内部构型的控制作用,利用水槽实验对正断层构造发育背景下的冲积扇发育过程进行模拟再现。研究表明,携带大量沉积物的碎屑流优先在上盘近断层处泄载,后经牵引流的改造,形成沿断面垂向生长、尖端指向物源的三角形分水滩。水动力较强时碎屑流越过分水滩并在分水滩尾部发育越滩朵体,水动力较弱时碎屑流遇分水滩尖端分流后沿断面在分水滩两侧发育断面朵体。受控于断面及分水滩的阻挡,冲积扇表面不同位置的沉积物泄载过程差异较大,粒度差异明显,上盘扇体中分水滩沉积物偏粗,越滩朵体次之,断面朵体最细。冲积扇的发育过程依据分水滩砂体厚度和断距大小之间的差异,共分为3个阶段。断距大小还会影响冲积扇沉积构型,断距越大,上盘可容空间越大,分水滩发育时间越长,扇体内部砂体叠置样式越复杂。受控于正断层的冲积扇内部构型在垂直物源剖面上从近端至远端,分别发育纵向沙坝、分水滩及碎屑流朵体,在平行物源剖面上以复合水道主控、分水滩叠复体主控、多期朵体叠复体主控为主。     

Simulation experiment of sedimentary process and sedimentary architecture of alluvial fan under the control of normal faults

Normal fault structures are widely developed in basins and orogenic belts,which control the accommodation space and the distribution of sediments and thus affecting the morphology of alluvial fans. A flume tank experiment was carried to simulate and clarify the control of normal faults on the sedimentary process and internal architecture of alluvial fans.The results show that the large amount of sediments carried by debris flow tend to be unloaded near the hanging wall of faults and are subsequently reworked by traction current,which result in a triangular distributary gravel bar grows vertically on fault plane with the tip pointing to the source area. When the hydrodynamic force is strong,debris flow goes across distributary gravel bar and forms over-bar lobe at the tail of the distributary gravel bar. When the hydrodynamic force is weak,debris flow forms fault plane-dominated lobe along fault plane and is located on both sides of the distributary gravel bar. Under the control of normal faults and the barrier of distributary gravel bar,the unloading process of sediments varies greatly at different positions on the surface of alluvial fan. The particle size varies greatly among different facies,with coarsest grains developed on the fans of hanging wall,finer grained on over-bar lobe and finest sediments on fault plane-dominated lobe. The development process of alluvial fan can be divided into three stages,according to the sandbody thickness and fault throw of distributary gravel bar. The fault throw also affects the sedimentary architecture of alluvial fan,with larger the fault throw generating larger the accommodation space of hanging wall,longer development time of distributary gravel bar and more complex of the superposition pattern of the sand bodies inside the fan. The internal architecture of alluvial fan that is controlled by normal faults includes longitudinal sandbar,distributary gravel bar and debris flow lobe in the profile vertical perpendicular to the sediment source direction from the proximal to the distal end. Along sediment longitudinal section,composite channel,superimposed distributary gravel bar complex and superimposed bodies of multi-phased lobes are dominant facies.     

Constraining slip rates and spacings for active normal faults

Numerous observations of extensional provinces indicate that neighbouring faults commonly slip at different rates and, moreover, may be active over different time intervals. These published observations include variations in slip rate measured along-strike of a fault array or fault zone, as well as significant across-strike differences in the timing and rates of movement on faults that have a similar orientation with respect to the regional stress field. Here we review published examples from the western USA, the North Sea, and central Greece, and present new data from the Italian Apennines that support the idea that such variations are systematic and thus to some extent predictable. The basis for the prediction is that: (1) the way in which a fault grows is fundamentally controlled by the ratio of maximum displacement to length, and (2) the regional strain rate must remain approximately constant through time. We show how data on fault lengths and displacements can be used to model the observed patterns of long-term slip rate where measured values are sparse. Specifically, we estimate the magnitude of spatial variation in slip rate along-strike and relate it to the across-strike spacing between active faults.     

考虑逆断层的煤层顶底板TIN生成的新方法

为了解决逆断层参与下煤层顶底板不易生成TIN的问题,提出了一种新方法。该方法以约束Delaunay三角剖分为理论基础,一方面使生成TIN满足约束Delaunay原则,另一方面又很好地解决了逆断层生成TIN的问题。通过大量煤层正/逆断层和多期叠加断层数据的检验,该算法容易实现,稳定可靠,效率高,并对将来自动生成煤层顶/底板等高线图也很有帮助。     

Numerical investigation of the stabilisation behaviour of shallow foundations under alternate loading

This article presents a stability criterion for shallow foundations on sand for various loading conditions. By means of laboratory model tests, a behaviour called self-healing is shown. Numerical simulations of these tests prove the suitability of the employed numerical model. Based on this validation, a numerical parametric study is done to analyse the influence of loading condition and initial state of the soil on the self-healing. Main focus is on the rotational behaviour and settlement of the foundation. The observations and numerical results are discussed and an explanation is presented based on results of cyclic laboratory tests.     

大风浪影响下海域泥沙输运异变数值模拟

基于实测的水深、潮流、悬浮体、底质数据及历史气象资料等,采用导入SWAN波浪参数的ECOMSED三维模型,模拟大风浪对小清河口附近海域悬浮体浓度和底床冲淤变化的影响程度。并利用全潮水文观测资料对水动力和输沙率模拟结果进行检验,对比分析表明计算值与实测值吻合良好。模拟结果表明,大风浪影响下近岸海域泥沙输运变化较大,悬浮体浓度可达一般天气的10倍左右,而底床冲淤变化可达平时的百余倍。大风浪期间剧烈的底床冲淤变化对河口拦门沙演化影响较大。     

Evidence for coupled reverse and normal active faulting in W Iberia: The Vidigueira–Moura and Alqueva faults (SE Portugal)

The Vidigueira–Moura fault (VMF) is a 65 km long, E–W trending, N dipping reverse left-lateral late Variscan structure located in SE Portugal (W Iberia), which has been reactivated during the Cenozoic with reverse right-lateral slip. It is intersected by, and interferes with the NE–SW trending Alentejo–Plasencia fault. East of this intersection, for a length of 40 km the VMF borders an intracratonic tectonic basin on its northern side, thrusting Paleozoic schists, meta-volcanics and granites, on the north, over Cenozoic continental sediments preserved in the basin, on the south. West of the faults intersection, evidence of Cenozoic reactivation is scarce. In the eastern sector, Plio-Quaternary VMF reactivation is indicated by geomorphologic, stratigraphic, and structural data, showing reverse movement with a right-lateral strike-slip component, in response to a NW–SE trending compressive stress. An average vertical displacement rate of 0.06 to 0.08 mm/yr since late Pliocene (roughly the last 2.5 Ma) is estimated. The Alqueva fault (AF) is a subparallel, northward dipping, 7.5 km long anastomosing fault zone that affects Palaeozoic basement rocks, and is located 2.5 km north and on the hanging block of the VMF. The AF is also a reverse left-lateral late Variscan structure, which has been reactivated during the Tertiary with reverse right-lateral slip; however, Plio-Quaternary reactivation was normal left-lateral, as shown by abundant kinematical criteria (slickensides) and geomorphic evidence. It shows an average displacement rate of 0.02 mm/yr for the vertical component of movement in the approximately last 2.5 Ma. It is proposed that the normal displacements on the AF result from tangential longitudinal strain on the upthrown block of the VMF above a convex ramp of this main reverse structure. According to this model of faults interaction, the AF is interpreted to work as a bending-moment fault sited above the VMF thrust ramp. Consequently, it is expected that the displacements on the AF increase towards the topographic surface with the increase in the imposed extension, declining downwards until they vanish above or at the VMF ramp. In order to constrain the proposed scheme, numerical modeling was performed, aiming at the reproduction of the present topography across the faults using different geodynamic models and fault geometries and displacements.     

Numerical modeling of the hydraulic signatures of horizontal and inclined faults

Pumping tests in discontinuous media are commonly interpreted using radial/non-radial flow analytical models, which do not account for a large range of multistage real signatures that combine both flow types. The term radial is employed in Barker??s sense, referring to the cross-flow area growth with a flow dimension (n) equal to 2, while multistage refers to a flow response of several time periods with successive n values. Synthetic domains are used to numerically investigate the flow behaviour of faulted media, specifically the effect of fault inclination on multistage signatures. Simulations are performed using single faults surrounded by a permeable matrix to characterize drawdown series and to identify hydrodynamic scenarios associated with some diagnostic multistage n sequences. The n sequence 2 ?C <?2 ?C 2 results from interactions between the matrix and a horizontal to weakly inclined fault, while 2 ?C 1.5 ?C 2 corresponds to a higher fault inclination and is a combination of the generalized horizontally and vertically faulted models. These results improve the interpretation of ambiguous drawdown series from long-term pumping tests. This provides a better hydraulic characterization of faulted environments, allowing assessment of fault and matrix properties such as fault inclination. The approach is successfully tested on real datasets.     

Numerical investigation of hydraulic characteristics and prediction of cavitation number in Shahid Madani Dam's Spillway

The prediction of the probability of cavitation occurrence to prevent serious damages in the spillways is the major concern for hydraulic engineers. In this research, the three-dimensional model of Shahid Madani Dam’s spillway was simulated with the Flow 3D software and by the comparison of numerical model results with the experi-mental data, the probability of occurrence of the cavitation phenomenon has been investigated. The flow parameters including pressure, velocity, and water depth were calculated for three different flow rates of 495 m3/s, 705 m3/s and 2 205 m3/s respectively. The Renormalization Group (RNG) turbulence model was used to simulate current turbulence. Comparison of simulation results for pressure, velocity and water depth with the results of the experimental model with two statistical indices Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Coefficient of Determination (R2) showed that the numerical simulation results are in good consistency with experimental model. However, simulation results indicated that at any flow rates with a return period of 1 000 years, probable maximum flood and designed flow rates, the cavitation number is not lower than the critical cavitation number; Therefore, it is predicted that the cavitation phenomenon in Shahid Madani Dam’s spillway will not happen.     

Numerical investigation of hydraulic characteristics and prediction of cavitation number in Shahid Madani Dam's Spillway

The prediction of the probability of cavitation occurrence to prevent serious damages in the spillways is the major concern for hydraulic engineers. In this research,the three-dimensional model of Shahid Madani Dam's spillway was simulated with the Flow 3 D software and by the comparison of numerical model results with the experimental data, the probability of occurrence of the cavitation phenomenon has been investigated. The flow parameters including pressure, velocity, and water depth were calculated for three different flow rates of 495 m~3/s, 705 m~3/s and 2 205 m~3/s respectively.The Renormalization Group(RNG) turbulence model was used to simulate current turbulence. Comparison of simulation results for pressure, velocity and water depth with the results of the experimental model with two statistical indices Root Mean Square Error(RMSE) and Coefficient of Determination(R~2) showed that the numerical simulation results are in good consistency with experimental model. However, simulation results indicated that at any flow rates with a return period of 1 000 years, probable maximum flood and designed flow rates, the cavitation number is not lower than the critical cavitation number. Therefore, it is predicted that the cavitation phenomenon in Shahid Madani Dam's spillway will not happen.     

The geometry of listric normal faults and deformation in their hangingwalls

In cross-sections containing listric extensional faults, area balancing techniques for depth to décollement are usually based on either bed length conservation or displacement conservation. Listric fault geometry may be constructed from a hangingwall roll-over profile using the ‘Chevron construction’. This construction, based on conservation of heave, necessitates a reduction in fault displacement with decreasing fault dip. A modification of this construction utilizing conservation of fault displacement predicts a listric fault that detaches at a shallower depth. A new construction based on slip lines uses fault-perpendicular displacement segments to generate listric fault shape. Fault propagation strain may be responsible for anomalous hangingwall geometries, and these can be predicted by forward modelling using either a modified Chevron construction or a slip-line construction.     

哈山地区撕裂断层发育特征

正准噶尔盆地西北缘哈山山前带形成过程中受到强烈的挤压作用,形成逆冲推覆叠加构造,断裂和裂缝非常发育,南邻玛湖生烃凹陷,成藏条件非常有利。近几年来,相继发现了春晖油田和阿拉德油田,哈浅101井、哈深2井等多口井也见到了良好的油气显示,勘探潜力非常大。但不同区段构造变形和油气分布存在明显差异,前人研究主要集中在挤压构造的发育特征、演化过程及控藏作用(薛雁等,2017),对分隔不同区段的撕裂断层(杨勇等,2014;王勇,2010)研究较少。