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Modelling the cutoff behavior of underground structure in multi-aquifer-aquitard groundwater system

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Abstract

The quaternary deposit of Shanghai is composed of an alternated multi-aquifer-aquitard system (MAAS) consisting of a sequence of aquitards laid over aquifers one by one. In the MAAS, any drawdown of groundwater head in an aquifer may cause consolidation of the overburden aquitard. When underground structures penetrate those aquifers, groundwater seepage path changes and drawdown occurs at the side characterized by the lower hydraulic potential along the flow direction (hereafter refers as to the lower side). This drawdown may cause additional subsidence at the lower side and unbalanced load between the two sides of the underground structure. In order to evaluate the cutoff effect of an underground structure on groundwater seepage in a MAAS representative of the underground of the city of Shanghai, a numerical analysis based on a groundwater flow model has been carried out. The simulated results have shown that underground structures which cut off groundwater flow locally change both magnitude and direction of the flow velocity field. The induced changes in the groundwater field are highly sensitive to the penetration depth and width of the underground structure. Design recommendations for underground structures in aquifers belonging to a MAAS are also presented, which has not yet been considered in the engineering practice of Shanghai.

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Acknowledgments

The research work described herein was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 41102175). It is also supported by the starting funding of young faculty members of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These financial support establishment is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China

    Ye-Shuang Xu & Shui-Long Shen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Ye-Shuang Xu & Shui-Long Shen

  3. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation College, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People’s Republic of China

    Yan-Jun Du

  4. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Jin-Chun Chai

  5. School of Civil Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

    Suksun Horpibulsuk

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  1. Ye-Shuang Xu
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Correspondence to Shui-Long Shen.

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Xu, YS., Shen, SL., Du, YJ. et al. Modelling the cutoff behavior of underground structure in multi-aquifer-aquitard groundwater system. Nat Hazards 66, 731–748 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0512-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0512-y

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