A numerical simulation of impact of groundwater seepage on temperature distribution in karst collapse pillar

This paper presents an investigation of the impacts of groundwater seepage on temperature distribution in the karst collapse pillar (KCP). A thermal mathematic model with groundwater seepage was proposed, and a numerical model was established to describe the impacts of groundwater seepage on the temperature distribution in the KCP. The results show that the groundwater seepage velocity improved with the increasing permeability of porous medium in the KCP. The increasing seepage velocity improves thermal convection and then improves thermal conduction in the porous medium. As a result, the heat in the deep Ordovician limestone groundwater gradually diffuses. The seepage velocity occurred differently in different locations of KCP, and the heat exchange was also different, resulting in temperature differences for different locations. This temperature divergence in the surrounding rocks can reach 5~9°C at distances less than 50 m to the KCP. These findings can be used to protect the mine from water inrush by monitoring temperature changes in the surrounding rocks of KCP.