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Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 14891

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhou Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
Interests: seepage control of underground engineering; prevention and control and evaluation of groundwater environment; groundwater simulation modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Lichao Nie

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
Interests: tunnel water inrush; applied geophysics; geotechnical engineering; hydrogeology; electrical method; induced polarization; geological disasters; TBM jamming
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Prof. Dr. Haifeng Lu

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Guest Editor

School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
Interests: rock mass seepage and fluid solid coupling; mine water resources and water disaster prevention; evaluation of geothermal resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geological heterogeneity, limited data, and polysolotion of data interpretation are recognized as the major sources of uncertainty in practical engineering geology problems. With the development of measurement technologies, geophysical technology, and simulation modeling methods, many efforts have been made to reduce uncertainty, focusing on bridging the gaps between available geological data and accurate geologic models. Actually, geologic knowledge of engineering practice plays an essential role in characterizing and quantifying uncertainty in different geologic models at different scales. Ignorance of the uncertainty in geologic models often leads to the failure of engineering structures, geohazards (such as landslides, groundwater inrush, and ground subsidence), and groundwater environmental problems, all of which can pose significant societal risk. Therefore, it is critical to characterize and quantify the geological uncertainty of geologic models and to systematically examine their implications for engineering design, geohazard mitigation, groundwater resources, and environmental problems. The Special Issue welcomes high-quality contributions that provide the community with the latest advances on all aspects of geologic uncertainty and applications, including but not limited to.

Dr. Zhou Chen
Prof. Dr. Lichao Nie
Prof. Dr. Haifeng Lu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

geological heterogeneity
limited data
polysolotion of data interpretation
geological uncertainty
accurate geologic model
geohazard
geological formation construction
groundwater resource
groundwater environment

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Tunnel Water Inflow Prediction Method Based on the MODFLOW-DRAIN Module

by Zhou Chen, Zhaoqiang Su, Mei Li, Qi Shen, Lufei Fan and Yanjie Zhang

Water 2024, 16(8), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16081078 - 10 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2171

Abstract

The precise prediction of water inflow in tunnels is a key aspect of civil engineering. It is directly related to the progress of construction, the stability of caverns and the safety of construction personnel. Currently widely used calculation methods include the empirical formula method, the analytical method and the numerical simulation method. In situations where the geological conditions are complex and the boundary conditions are irregular, numerical simulation methods have clear advantages. However, there are still discussions about the rationality, accuracy and applicability of the definition of tunnel boundary conditions in numerical simulation methods. Based on the Groundwater Model System (GMS10.7) software, we investigate the feasibility of using the DRAIN module to describe tunnel boundaries and calculate water inflow. By comparing it with traditional empirical formulas, the feasibility of the method is verified, and the error is about 8%. In addition, this method is applied to predict the water inflow in the construction of an underground pumping station under complex geological conditions and the prediction is compared with the measured water inflow, and the error is about 20%. This article explains the physical meaning and the value method of the relevant parameters of the DRAIN module, providing basic support for the prediction of water inflow in tunnels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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14 pages, 1269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Hydrochemical Characteristics and Evolution Law of Taiyuan Formation Limestone Water under the Influence of Grouting with Fly Ash Cement: A Case Study in Gubei Coal Mine of Huainan, China

by Guanhong Xiao and Haifeng Lu

Water 2024, 16(7), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070971 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1598

Abstract

The hydrogeological conditions of Huainan Coalfield are complex. The Taiyuan formation limestone water (Taihui water) in this area is a direct threat to the water source of the 1# coal mining floor. In order to prevent and control water disasters, Gubei Coal Mine adopted ground high-pressure grouting with fly ash cement to block the hydraulic connection between the Taiyuan formation limestone aquifer and the Ordovician limestone aquifer. However, the injected slurry will destroy the original hydrochemical balance of Taihui water and change its hydrochemical characteristics. Taking the influence area of the 2# karst collapse column in the Beiyi 1# coal mining area of Gubei Coal Mine as an example, a total of 25 Taihui water samples were collected. The hydrochemical characteristics and evolution law of Taihui water before and after grouting are studied via the multivariate statistical method. The research methods include constant index statistics, Piper diagram, correlation analysis, ion combination ratio, and saturation index analysis. The results show that after grouting, the concentrations of Na⁺ + K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cl⁻ in Taihui water decrease, while the concentrations of SO₄²⁻ and HCO₃⁻ increase. The average values of PH and TDS become larger. The hydrochemical types of Taihui water are more concentrated, mainly HCO₃-Na and Cl-Na. The correlations between conventional indicators decrease. According to the analysis of ion combination ratio, dissolution, cation exchange, and pyrite oxidation mainly occur in Taihui water, and these effects are enhanced after grouting. The saturation index results show that after grouting, the saturation index of dolomite, calcite, and gypsum is significantly reduced, and the saturation index of rock salt is slightly increased. The conclusion of this study is that the hydrochemical characteristics of Taihui water are greatly affected by fly ash cement. Moreover, because fly ash cement contains a lower calcium oxide content than ordinary Portland cement, the effect of fly ash cement on the ion concentration of Taihui water and the resulting hydrogeochemical effect are significantly different. Therefore, in the treatment of mine water disasters, the hydrogeochemical evolution law affected by fly ash cement grouting should be identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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19 pages, 6656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Application of a New Exponential Model for Hydraulic Conductivity with Depth of Rock Mass

by Zhi Dou, Xin Huang, Weifeng Wan, Feng Zeng and Chaoqi Wang

Water 2024, 16(5), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050778 - 5 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1771

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivity generally decreases with depth in the Earth’s crust. The hydraulic conductivity–depth relationship has been assessed through mathematical models, enabling predictions of hydraulic conductivity in depths beyond the reach of direct measurements. However, it is observed that beyond a certain depth, hydraulic conductivity tends to stabilize; this phenomenon cannot be effectively characterized by the previous models. Thus, these models may make inaccurate predictions at deeper depths. In this work, we introduce an innovative exponential model to effectively assess the conductivity–depth relationship, particularly addressing the stabilization at greater depths. This model, in comparison with an earlier power-like model, has been applied to a globally sourced dataset encompassing a range of lithologies and geological structures. Results reveal that the proposed exponential model outperforms the power-like model in correctly representing the stabilized conductivity, and it well captures the fast stabilization effect of multiple datasets. Further, the proposed model has been utilized to analyze three distinct groups of datasets, revealing how lithology, geological stabilization, and faults impact the conductivity–depth relationship. The hydraulic conductivity decays to the residual hydraulic conductivity in the order (fast to slow): metamorphic rocks, sandstones, igneous rock, mudstones. The mean hydraulic conductivity in stable regions is roughly an order of magnitude lower than unstable regions. The faults showcase a dual role in both promoting and inhibiting hydraulic conductivity. The new exponential model has been successfully applied to a dataset from a specific engineering site to make predictions, demonstrating its practical usage. In the future, this model may serve as a potential tool for groundwater management, geothermal energy collection, pollutant transport, and other engineering projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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15 pages, 4988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on the Influence of Aquitard Layer Distribution and Permeability Parameters on Foundation Pit Dewatering

by Jinguo Wang, Zhiheng Ma, Jiale Zeng, Zhou Chen and Guoqing Li

Water 2023, 15(21), 3722; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15213722 - 25 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1948

Abstract

Evaluating the influence of geologic features on dewatering efficiency, particularly within strata of varying permeability, is critical to optimizing dewatering designs for deep excavations. In river valley areas, river sedimentation results in a discontinuous distribution of relatively aquitard layers (clay layers). The evaluation and calculation of the distribution and permeability parameters for foundation pit dewatering are very important when on-site geological data are insufficient. For this purpose, the deep excavation pit on the right bank and floodplain of Chongjiang River is taken as an example in this article. A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was constructed using the Unstructured Grid (MODFLOW-USG) software package version 1. The model was carefully calibrated using hydrogeologic features and observed groundwater levels to ensure its reliability. The simulation results effectively reproduce actual dewatering processes. The study reveals the following findings: (1) Increased aquitard layers (clay layer) enhance the barrier effect, thereby improving dewatering efficiency. (2) Increased clay layer permeability and storage coefficients reduce dewatering efficiency, while the specific yield of the clay layer has less pronounced effects. (3) Due to the discontinuous nature of the clay layer, dewatering rates are higher when the clay layer is below the riverbed than when it is in the flow boundary area (foothills). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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13 pages, 5931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water-Rock Action Analysis and Quality Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Suzhou City, Northern Anhui, China

by Li Gao, Jingyu Zhao, Hongtao Zhao, Jiying Xu, Jiewei Xu, Shuxin Han, Ling Wang, Xiaoyue Wang and Yonglie Shu

Water 2023, 15(11), 2006; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15112006 - 25 May 2023

Viewed by 1701

Abstract

Groundwater is the main water source for humans and plays an important role in health and food production. To understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics and quality of shallow groundwater in rural areas of Suzhou, Anhui Province, China, 32 groups of shallow groundwater samples were collected. The results of the study showed that the nature of the groundwater is slightly alkaline. The order of abundance of cations is Ca²⁺ > K⁺ + Na⁺ > Mg²⁺, whereas that of anions is HCO₃⁻ > Cl⁻ > SO₄²⁻. The main hydrochemical types are HCO₃-Ca, HCO₃-Mg, and HCO₃-Na. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope abundances indicated that shallow groundwater recharge in the study area is due to precipitation and is affected by evaporation. The ion ratio analysis suggested that the ions in the shallow groundwater originate from the weathering of silicate minerals and the dissolution of carbonate and sulphate minerals, accompanied by different degrees of ion exchange. Water quality evaluation indicated that the water is good and can be used directly as agricultural irrigation water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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15 pages, 57464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical and Numerical Simulation of the Mechanism Underpinning Accumulation Layer Deformation, Instability, and Movement Caused by Changing Reservoir Water Levels

by Rubin Wang, Jianxin Wan, Ruilin Cheng, Yunzi Wang and Zhaoying Wang

Water 2023, 15(7), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071289 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2328

Abstract

Large-scale physical models of landslides can potentially accurately reflect the interactions between many internal and external factors and elucidate the process of slope deformation and failure. In order to reveal the mechanism of deformation of the reservoir bank accumulation layer, in this study, a large-scale physical test model with a similarity ratio of 1:200 was constructed based on the actual engineering geological section. Two reservoir water level cycle fluctuation conditions were simulated, and the reservoir water level drop rate was strictly controlled to be two times the rise rate. This study analyzed pore water pressure and deformation characteristics in the accumulation layer in relation to fluctuating reservoir water levels. The results showed that the rise in reservoir water level will make landslides more stable. The periodic sudden drop in water level seriously endangers the stability of landslides. The deformation and failure of landslides are more likely to occur in the weak interlayer area. The failure mode of the accumulation body in the test was traction failure. It is suggested that the front part of the accumulation body can be reinforced in practical engineering. To reveal the progression of instability and movement during accumulation layer large-scale landslides, a numerical model was constructed using the material point method. The accumulation layer sliding process could be divided into three stages: acceleration sliding, deceleration sliding and stabilization. After destabilization, the river channel may be altered by the landslide mass to form a landslide dam, potentially threatening the integrity of the dam via impulse waves generated during destabilization. The research results provide technical support for reservoir scheduling in major water conservancy and hydroelectric power station reservoirs as well as engineering risk assessment and prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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16 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Source Analysis of High-Arsenic Groundwater in Typical Watershed Areas of Tibet, China

by Zhongwei Zhang, Liangjing Zhou, Yunjiao He, Zhaohui Luo and Sibao Chen

Water 2023, 15(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030533 - 29 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2365

Abstract

High-arsenic water limits the utilization and development of water resources in Tibet, and high-arsenic groundwater is one of the major sources of arsenic input to surface water in the area. In this work, the characteristics of groundwater and the source and formation of arsenic in a typical watershed in Tibet (the lower tributaries of the Angqu River) were investigated using systematic surveys, ionic ratios, Gibbs diagrams, in combination with isotopic and heat storage calculation methods. The studies show that the chemical composition of the water in the study area is mainly determined by the rock weathering of carbonate and silicate rocks. The average recharge elevation levels of hot spring water are 4874.1 m, 4058.1 m, and 4745.0 m, respectively. Deep hot water is the main source of arsenic in the spring water, and its arsenic flux accounts for 98.44–99.77% of the measured flux in the spring water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Geological Hazards and Groundwater Environment Assessments)

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