Analysis on Water Inrush Process of Tunnel with Large Buried Depth and High Water Pressure

Abstract

In order to explore the catastrophic evolution process for karst cave water inrush in large buried depth and high water pressure tunnels, a model test system was developed, and a similar fluid–solid coupled material was found. A model of the catastrophic evolution of water inrush was developed based on the Xiema Tunnel, and the experimental section was simulated using the finite element method. By analyzing the interaction between groundwater and the surrounding rocks during tunnel excavation, the law of occurrence of water inrush disaster was summarized. The water inrush process of a karst cave containing high-pressure water was divided into three stages: the production of a water flowing fracture, the expansion of the water flowing fracture, and the connection of the water flowing fracture. The main cause of water inrush in karst caves is the penetration and weakening of high-pressure water on the surrounding rock. This effect is becoming more and more obvious as tunnel excavation progresses. The numerical simulation results showed that the outburst prevention thickness of the surrounding rock is 4.5 m, and that of the model test result is 5 m. Thus, the results of the two methods are relatively close to each other. This work is important for studying the impact of groundwater on underground engineering, and it is of great significance to avoid water inrush in tunnels.