Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
Abstract The seepage erosion of underground defective pipelines can negatively affect the structure and stability of the surrounding strata, leading to severe urban ground collapses. Revealing the failure mechanism and mechanical characteristic is crucial for their prevention and mitigation. A large...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90146-5 |
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| Summary: | Abstract The seepage erosion of underground defective pipelines can negatively affect the structure and stability of the surrounding strata, leading to severe urban ground collapses. Revealing the failure mechanism and mechanical characteristic is crucial for their prevention and mitigation. A large-scale physical modeling experiment was carried out and a coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) numerical model was proposed. The microscopic soil–water interactions during the seepage erosion process were researched, and the effects of groundwater, overlying strata thickness, defect size, and particle size were evaluated. Results showed that the groundwater seepage would promote soil movement, and the defective pipeline provided sufficient space. The seepage erosion rate increased with the flow velocity, and when it exceeded the threshold (Vmax), the disintegration of the strata occurred. The thickness of the overlying strata was positively correlated with the time when the cavity reached the surface, and it had little effect on the erosion rate before the defect was exposed. Defect size and particle size had minimal effect on the erosion area. The findings of the mechanistic analysis indicated that the effects of seepage erosion on the stress–strain characteristics occurs mainly during the cavity development stage. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |