Experimental Study on Grouting and Flow Characteristics of Rough Vertical Fractures

It is of great engineering significance to study the seepage characteristics and flow field distribution of rough fractured rock masses for grouting to stop leakage. Through the visual fracture seepage test device we developed, the visual seepage characteristics of tension fractures under vertical angles and different stress paths of grout and water were studied. Through silica gel secondary mould turning technology, the fracture morphology is accurately reprinted; based on GIS simulation technology, the visualization of the fracture surface spatial data is realized; the actual seepage area and flow path of the fluid are measured accurately by using digital image self-recognition technology, and the variation law of the grout and water seepage area under the coupling of normal stress and water pressure is obtained. Through visualization, it is pointed out that, with the increase of normal stress, the fracture water can be divided into three stages, archipelago flow, transition flow, and groove flow, while the grout has no capillary permeability and no archipelago flow effect because of its high viscosity. The critical point of grout antiseepage is defined and calibrated by data. Based on the analysis of the cross-sectional velocity of the groove flow, it is pointed out that the relationship between the velocity on the flow path and JRC is an exponential function. The main flow path is mainly distributed in the area where the JRC is relatively small. As the normal stress increases, the first deflection point of the grout flow path appears in the maximum region of JRC (6.42); the secondary deflection point appears in the second largest region of the flow path JRC (4.53), and the fluid of deflection point has the maximum kinetic energy on the main flow path. The current study can accurately obtain the relevant parameters of vertical fracture grouting seepage characteristics and provide theoretical guidance for solving the key scientific problems in grouting engineering, such as invisible flow paths and unmeasurable velocity vectors.

Automated summary

This research focused on studying the seepage characteristics of rough fractured rock masses and the distribution of flow fields for grouting to stop leakage. By developing a visual fracture seepage test device, the study visualized and analyzed the seepage characteristics of fractures under different stress paths, providing theoretical guidance for solving key scientific problems in grouting engineering.