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: Jixiang Guo, Yanjun Zhang, Yuxiang Cheng, Xin Zhang, Haoxin Shi, Jianqiao Zheng, Yongjie Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90146-5
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author Jixiang Guo
Yanjun Zhang
Yuxiang Cheng
Xin Zhang
Haoxin Shi
Jianqiao Zheng
Yongjie Ma
author_facet Jixiang Guo
Yanjun Zhang
Yuxiang Cheng
Xin Zhang
Haoxin Shi
Jianqiao Zheng
Yongjie Ma
author_sort Jixiang Guo
collection DOAJ
description 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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institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-c245673cc8b84cedad467fd094feac4a2025-08-20T03:10:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115112010.1038/s41598-025-90146-5Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulationJixiang Guo0Yanjun Zhang1Yuxiang Cheng2Xin Zhang3Haoxin Shi4Jianqiao Zheng5Yongjie Ma6College of Construction Engineering, Jilin UniversityCollege of Construction Engineering, Jilin UniversityKey Lab of Groundwater Resource and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin UniversityCollege of Construction Engineering, Jilin UniversityCollege of Construction Engineering, Jilin UniversityCollege of Construction Engineering, Jilin UniversityZhejiang Huadong Geotechnical Investigation & Design Institute CO., LTDAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90146-5Ground collapseDefective pipelinePhysical model experimentInternal erosionCFD-DEM
spellingShingle Jixiang Guo
Yanjun Zhang
Yuxiang Cheng
Xin Zhang
Haoxin Shi
Jianqiao Zheng
Yongjie Ma
Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
Scientific Reports
Ground collapse
Defective pipeline
Physical model experiment
Internal erosion
CFD-DEM
title Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
title_full Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
title_fullStr Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
title_full_unstemmed Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
title_short Study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
title_sort study on urban ground collapse induced by defective pipelines based on physical model experiments and numerical simulation
topic Ground collapse
Defective pipeline
Physical model experiment
Internal erosion
CFD-DEM
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90146-5
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