Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment

A columnar jointed rock mass is a type of rock mass with strong geometric anisotropy and high interface permeability. Its seepage characteristics pose new challenges to the construction and maintenance of the Baihetan Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River. The research object in this study is the c...

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Main Authors: Yanxin He, Zhende Zhu, Wenbin Lu, Yunjin Hu, Xinghua Xie, Sijing Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924230
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author Yanxin He
Zhende Zhu
Wenbin Lu
Yunjin Hu
Xinghua Xie
Sijing Wang
author_facet Yanxin He
Zhende Zhu
Wenbin Lu
Yunjin Hu
Xinghua Xie
Sijing Wang
author_sort Yanxin He
collection DOAJ
description A columnar jointed rock mass is a type of rock mass with strong geometric anisotropy and high interface permeability. Its seepage characteristics pose new challenges to the construction and maintenance of the Baihetan Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River. The research object in this study is the columnar jointed rock mass (basalt) in the dam area of Baihetan Hydropower Station. Similar-material model samples of the columnar jointed rock mass with different column dip angles (α=0°~90°) were prepared following a similar principle. A true triaxial seepage–stress coupling test was conducted to evaluate the seepage characteristics of similar-material samples with different dip angles under intermediate principal stress and minimum principal stress. The experimental results showed that the columnar jointed rock mass exhibited apparent seepage anisotropy. The relationship curve between the volume flow rate Q and the pressure gradient −dP/dL of the samples with different dip angles showed evident nonlinear seepage under intermediate principal stress, which could be well expressed using the Forchheimer equation. It shows the characteristics of a typical linear Darcy flow under minimum principal stress. The law of variations in the permeability of the samples with different dip angles under intermediate principal stress can be well expressed using the one-dimensional quadratic function equation k=a+bσ2+cσ22, and the law of variations in the permeability of the samples with different dip angles under minimum principal stress can be well expressed using the logarithmic function k=a+blnσ3. The permeabilities of the columnar jointed rock mass with dip angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 60° were most sensitive to changes in stress, and the seepage characteristics increased in complexity after changes in stress.
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spelling doaj-art-bb14e1ae24b44c60bbd64025a674a0a72025-08-20T02:19:11ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99242309924230Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial ExperimentYanxin He0Zhende Zhu1Wenbin Lu2Yunjin Hu3Xinghua Xie4Sijing Wang5Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaKey Laboratory of Rock Mechanics and Geohazards of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Shaoxing 312000, ChinaNanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaA columnar jointed rock mass is a type of rock mass with strong geometric anisotropy and high interface permeability. Its seepage characteristics pose new challenges to the construction and maintenance of the Baihetan Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River. The research object in this study is the columnar jointed rock mass (basalt) in the dam area of Baihetan Hydropower Station. Similar-material model samples of the columnar jointed rock mass with different column dip angles (α=0°~90°) were prepared following a similar principle. A true triaxial seepage–stress coupling test was conducted to evaluate the seepage characteristics of similar-material samples with different dip angles under intermediate principal stress and minimum principal stress. The experimental results showed that the columnar jointed rock mass exhibited apparent seepage anisotropy. The relationship curve between the volume flow rate Q and the pressure gradient −dP/dL of the samples with different dip angles showed evident nonlinear seepage under intermediate principal stress, which could be well expressed using the Forchheimer equation. It shows the characteristics of a typical linear Darcy flow under minimum principal stress. The law of variations in the permeability of the samples with different dip angles under intermediate principal stress can be well expressed using the one-dimensional quadratic function equation k=a+bσ2+cσ22, and the law of variations in the permeability of the samples with different dip angles under minimum principal stress can be well expressed using the logarithmic function k=a+blnσ3. The permeabilities of the columnar jointed rock mass with dip angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 60° were most sensitive to changes in stress, and the seepage characteristics increased in complexity after changes in stress.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924230
spellingShingle Yanxin He
Zhende Zhu
Wenbin Lu
Yunjin Hu
Xinghua Xie
Sijing Wang
Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
Geofluids
title Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
title_full Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
title_fullStr Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
title_full_unstemmed Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
title_short Seepage Flow Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass in a True Triaxial Experiment
title_sort seepage flow properties of a columnar jointed rock mass in a true triaxial experiment
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924230
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