Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The behavior of mass migration and loss in fractured rock during seepage

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mass migration and loss in fractured rock during seepage processes are considered to cause seepage instabilities, which can lead to seepage catastrophes. In this study, the migration and loss of fine particles in fractured rock during seepage are theoretically and experimentally investigated. We analyze the characteristics of lost and migrated mass obtained from the experiments over time, as well as the effect of initial compression. A linear relationship is found to best describe the difference of migrated versus lost mass and Talbot power exponent (TPE), with the slope and intercept related to initial compression. The lost and migrated mass are described mathematically based on the TPE and initial compression. We quantify the behavior of mass migration and loss, which allows calculation of the possibility of seepage instability and water inrush. A seepage instability occurs if the lost mass ratio is greater than 4.90%. The results presented here provide important insight into the water inrush mechanism in geotechnical engineering applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

the cross-section area of the sample, L2

a :

the slope of the linear relationship, -

b :

the intercept of the linear relationship, -

d :

the inner diameter of permeameter, L

d i :

the particle size of the current fractured mudstone, L

d p :

the diameter of the migrated fine particle, L

f :

the turbulent frequency, T−1

h 0 :

the height of the sample without initial compression, L

h 0c :

the height of the sample with initial compression, L

h c :

the initial compression, L

j :

the times of collecting the lost mass, -

M :

the original mass of the sample, M

m li :

the collected lost mass, M

m m :

the migrated mass, M

Δm :

the difference mass, M

n :

Talbot power exponent (TPE), -

r l :

The lost mass ratio, -

Δt :

a period of time, T

u f :

the flow velocity of water, LT−1

u p :

the flow velocity of the fine particle, LT−1

V 0 :

the volume of the sample without initial compression, L3

V 0c :

the volume of the sample with initial compression, L3

V f :

the volume of water in the gaps and spaces, L3

V p :

the volume of the fine particles in the gaps and spaces, L3

V t :

the volume of the tight sample with the original mass, L3

ϕ 0 :

the original porosity of the sample, -

ϕ i :

the current porosity of the sample induced by mass loss, -

ρ f :

the density of water, ML−3

ρ p :

the density of the sample, ML−3

μ :

the viscosity coefficient of water at normal atmospheric temperature, ML−2T

ω :

the natural frequency, T−1

η :

the velocity ratio of migrated fine particle and water, -

References

  • Abdou H, Emeriault F, Ple O (2018) New approach to describe hydro-mechanical phenomenon of suffusion: erosion, transport and deposition. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 1–19

  • Ahmed C, Ahmed B (2016) Modeling of particles migration in porous media: Application to soil suffusion. Tertiary Modeling of particles migration in porous media: Application to soil suffusion, 407–414. 8th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, ICSE 2016. Oxford, United Kingdom

  • Chen ZQ, Wang LZ, Kong HL, Yao BH (2014a) Study on nonlinear seepage test of variable mass of broken rock. Saf Coal Mines 45(2)

  • Chen ZQ, Wang LZ, Kong HL, Ni XY, Yao BH (2014b) A method for calculating permeability parameters of variable mass of broken rock. Chin J Appl Mech 31(6):927–932

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu TX, Yu MG, Jiang DY (2017) Experimental investigation on the permeability evolution of compacted broken coal. Transp Porous Media 116(2):847–868

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng MM, Wu JY, Ma D, Ni XY, Yu BY, Chen ZQ (2018) Experimental investigation on the seepage property of saturated broken red sandstone of continuous gradation. Bull Eng Geol Environ 77(3):1167–1178

    Google Scholar 

  • Golay F, Bonelli S (2010) Numerical modeling of suffusion as an interfacial erosion process. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 15(8):1225–1241

    Google Scholar 

  • He MC, Gao YB, Liu DQ, Sousaa L (2018) Mining rock mechanics in China. Tertiary Mining Rock Mechanics in China, 1–14. 10th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium/The ISRM International Symposium for 2018. Singapore

  • Horikoshi K, Takahashi A (2014) Physical model tests on suffusion-induced change of spatial distribution of fine fraction in embankments. Tertiary Physical model tests on suffusion-induced change of spatial distribution of fine fraction in embankments, 163–170. 7th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, ICSE 2014. Perth, WA, Australia

  • Horikoshi K, Takahashi A (2015) Suffusion-induced change in spatial distribution of fine fractions in embankment subjected to seepage flow. Soils Found 55(5):1293–1304

    Google Scholar 

  • Horikoshi K, Ke L, Takahashi A (2015) Suffusion-induced change in spatial distribution of fine fraction in embankment subjected to steady and unsteady seepage flow. Tertiary Suffusion-induced change in spatial distribution of fine fraction in embankment subjected to steady and unsteady seepage flow, 1708–1713. 15th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ARC 2015. Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosn RA, Nguyen CD, Sibille L, Benahmed N, Chareyre B (2017) Microscale analysis of the effect of suffusion on soil mechanical properties. Tertiary Microscale analysis of the effect of suffusion on soil mechanical properties, 117–124. 11th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials, IWBDG 2017. Limassol, Cyprus

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang SH, Wei QD (2003) On velocity response of tracing particles in laser-based velocimetry to complex flows: numerical analysis of sliding velocity of tracing particles in various flows. Adv Water Sci 14(1):28–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang XB (2001) Study on turbulent characteristics and abrasion mechanisms of high-velocity sediment-laden and area ted flow. Hohai University, Nanjing

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang XB, Yuan YZ, Wang SX (2006) Mechanism of abrasion to material by high-velocity sediment-laden flow and effect of aeration on abrasion resistance. J Water Resour Archit Eng 4(1):1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter RP, Bowman ET (2018) Visualisation of seepage-induced suffusion and suffosion within internally erodible granular media. Géotechnique 68(10):918–930

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong HL, Wang LZ (2018a) Seepage problems on fractured rock accompanying with mass loss during excavation in coal mines with karst collapse columns. Arab J Geosci 11(19):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong HL, Wang LZ (2018b) The mass loss behavior of fractured rock in seepage process: the development and application of a new seepage experimental system. Adv Civil Eng 2018(7891914):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong HL, Chen ZQ, Wang LZ, Shen HD (2013) Experimental study on permeability of crushed gangues during compaction. Int J Miner Process 124:95–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SC, Miao XX, Chen ZQ, Mao XB (2008) Experimental study on seepage properties of non-Darcy flow in confined broken rocks. Eng Mech 25(4):85–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Li WP, Liu QM, Sun RH (2011) Theoretical and experiment study on vadose conversion of water inrush later occurred from structure broken zone. Coal Sci Technol 39(11):10–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma D (2013) Experimental research on non-Darcy flow seepage properties of broken mudstone with variable mass. China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma D, Miao XX, Jiang GH, Bai HB, Chen ZQ (2014) An experimental investigation of permeability measurement of water flow in crushed rocks. Transp Porous Media 105(3):571–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma D, Bai HB, Miao XX, Pu H, Jiang BY, Chen ZQ (2016) Compaction and seepage properties of crushed limestone particle mixture: an experimental investigation for Ordovician karst collapse pillar groundwater inrush. Environ Earth Sci 75(1):1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma ZG, Miao XX, Chen ZQ, Li YS (2009) Experimental study of permeability of broken coal. Rock Soil Mech 30(4):985–988 +996

    Google Scholar 

  • Marot D, Benamar A (2013) Suffusion, transport and filtration of fine particles in granular soil. Erosion of Geomaterials. Wiley 39–79

  • Mazumder MK, Kirsch KJ (1975) Flow tracking fidelity of scattering aerosol in laser Doppler velocimetry. Appl Opt 14(4):894–901

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehdizadeh A, Disfani MM, Evans R, Arulrajah A (2018) Progressive internal Erosion in a gap-graded internally unstable soil: mechanical and geometrical effects. Int J Geomech 18(3):1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehdizadeh A, Disfani MM, Evans R, Arulrajah A, Ong DEL (2017) Mechanical consequences of suffusion on undrained behaviour of a gap-graded cohesionless soil-an experimental approach. Geotech Test J 40(6):1026–1042

    Google Scholar 

  • Miao XX, Liu WQ, Chen ZQ (2004) Seepage theory of mining rock mass. The Science Publishing Company, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Miao XX, Li SC, Chen ZQ, Liu WQ (2011) Experimental study of seepage properties of broken sandstone under different porosities. Transp Porous Media 86(3):805–814

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian QH (2012) Challenges faced by underground projects construction safety and countermeasures. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 31(10):1945–1956

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao W, Hu G, Li WP (2013) Experimental study on the conversion from seepage to flow of water inrush aroused by fault activation in fully mechanized top-coal caving. J Min Saf Eng 30(1):30–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbrand E, Dijkstra J (2012) Application of image subtraction data to quantify suffusion. Geotech Lett 2:37–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadaghiani MRS, Witt KJ (2010) Experimental identification of mobile particles in suffusible non cohesive soils. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 15(8):1155–1165

    Google Scholar 

  • Sail Y, Marot D, Sibille L, Alexis A (2010) Suffusion tests on cohesionless granular matter: experimental study. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 15(5):799–817

    Google Scholar 

  • Salehi Sadaghiani MR, Witt KJ, Odenwald B (2016) Experimental investigations of critical hydraulic gradients for a soil prone to suffusion. Tertiary Experimental investigations of critical hydraulic gradients for a soil prone to suffusion, 1033–1042. 8th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, ICSE 2016. Oxford, United Kingdom

  • Shwiyhat N, Xiao M (2010) Effect of suffusion on mechanical characteristics of sand. Tertiary Effect of suffusion on mechanical characteristics of sand, 378–386. 5th International Conference on Scour and Erosion. San Francisco, CA, United States

  • Summersgill F, O'Sullivan C (2010) Developing an insight into the particle-scale mechanisms that underlie suffusion in granular filters. Tertiary Developing an insight into the particle-scale mechanisms that underlie suffusion in granular filters, 134–145. Managing Dams: Challenges in a Time of Change - Proceedings of the 16th Conference of the British Dam Society

  • Terzariol RE, Rocca RJ, Zeballos ME (2013) Suffusion in compacted loessial silts. Interaction with granular filters. Tertiary Suffusion in compacted loessial silts. Interaction with granular filters, 3321–3324. 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ICSMGE 2013. Paris, France

  • To HD, Scheuermann A (2015) Separation of grain size distribution for application of self-filtration criteria in suffusion assessment. Tertiary Separation of grain size distribution for application of self-filtration criteria in suffusion assessment, 121–128. 7th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, ICSE 2014. Perth, WA, Australia

  • To HD, Scheuermann A, Galindo-Torres SA (2016) Probability of transportation of loose particles in suffusion assessment by self-filtration criteria. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 142(2)

  • Wang LZ, Kong HL (2017) Accelerated experimental study on permeability for fractured rock accompanying with mass loss. The Science Publishing Company, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Kong HL (2018) Variation characteristics of mass-loss rate in dynamic seepage system of the broken rocks. Geofluids 2018(7137601):1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Shen HD (2013a) Experimental study on the type change of liquid flow in broken coal samples. J Coal Sci Eng (China) 19(1):19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Kong HL (2014a) Influences on penetration laws of broken mudstone with mass loss from talbol power exponents. Electron J Geotech Eng 19(O):3681–3692

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Kong HL (2017) An experimental investigation for seepage-induced instability of confined broken mudstones with consideration of mass loss. Geofluids 2017(3057910):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Kong HL, Shen HD (2013b) Experimental study of impact of loading history on permeability characteristics of broken coal with different grain size gradations. Rock Soil Mech 34(5):1325–1330

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Kong HL, Xu H (2014b) Numerical simulation on penetration laws of broken rock with mass loss under different pressure gradients. Electron J Geotech Eng 19(K):2491–2502

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Chen ZQ, Kong HL, Ni XY (2014c) An experimental study of the influence of seepage pressure and initial porosity on variable mass seepage for broken mudstone. J Min Saf Eng 31(3):462–468 +475

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang LZ, Kong HL, Qiu CC, Xu B (2019) Time-varying characteristics on migration and loss of fine particles in fractured mudstone under water flow scour. Arab J Geosci 12(5):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler P, Jentsch H, Salehi Sadaghiani MR, Witt KJ (2016) Numerical investigation of the particle skeleton of widely graded soils prone to suffusion. Tertiary Numerical investigation of the particle skeleton of widely graded soils prone to suffusion, 149–154. 8th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, ICSE 2016. Oxford, United Kingdom

  • Xiao M, Shwiyhat N (2012) Experimental investigation of the effects of suffusion on physical and geomechanic characteristics of sandy soils. Geotech Test J 35(6)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie HP, Gao F, Ju Y (2015) Research and development of rock mechanics in deep ground engineering. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 34(11):2161–2178

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie HP, Gao MZ, Zhang R, Peng GY, Wang WY, Li AQ (2019) Study on the mechanical properties and mechanical response of coal mining at 1000m or deeper. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52(5):1475–1490

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu YC, Luo YQ, Li JH, Li KQ, Cao XC (2018) Water and sand inrush during mining under thick unconsolidated layers and thin bedrock in the Zhaogu no. 1 coal mine, China. Mine Water Environ 37(2):336–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao BH (2012) Research on variable mass fluid-solid coupling dynamic theory of broken rock mass and application. China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao BH, Chen ZW, Wei JP, Bai TH, Liu SM (2018) Predicting Erosion-induced water inrush of karst collapse pillars using inverse velocity theory. Geofluids 2018:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu BY, Chen ZQ, Wu JY, Wang LZ (2017) Experimental study of non-Darcy flow seepage properties of cemented broken rocks with mass loss. J China Univ Min Technol 46(2):321–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou PY (2002) Turbulence theory of incompressible fluid. Mech Eng 24(4):1–9

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China (BK20160433), the National Natural Science Fund (11502229), the Program of Outstanding Young Scholars in Yancheng Institute of Technology (2014), the Program of Yellow Sea Elite in Yancheng Institute of Technology (2019), the Outstanding Young Backbone Teacher of QingLan Project in Jiangsu Province (2016), Jiangsu Government Scholarship for Overseas Studies (2017), Scholarship for Overseas Studies in Yancheng Institute of Technology (2018) and the Program of Yellow Sea Team in Yancheng Institute of Technology (2019). We thank Esther Posner, PhD, from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051, Jiangsu, China

    Hailing Kong & Luzhen Wang

  2. School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Hailing Kong & Luzhen Wang

Authors
  1. Hailing Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luzhen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luzhen Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kong, H., Wang, L. The behavior of mass migration and loss in fractured rock during seepage. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 739–754 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01581-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01581-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation