scholarly journals Modeling of earth fissures caused by land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal

Author(s):  
B. B. Panda ◽  
M. L. Rucker ◽  
K. C. Fergason

Abstract. Land subsidence and earth fissures are phenomena related to groundwater withdrawal in a sedimentary basin. If the rock basement or basin lithology is irregular, both vertical and horizontal displacements can be induced due to differential settlement and tensile stresses appearing in the soil mass. If the differential settlement is of sufficient magnitude, earth fissuring can occur within tensile zones. The magnitudes of compaction and fissure geometry are closely related to the thickness and skeletal compressibility of fine-grained sediments within the aquifer system. Land subsidence and earth fissuring were modeled by employing a two-dimensional (2-D) coupled seepage and stress-strain finite element analysis. The basin bedrock geometry, lithological variation, measurements of surface displacements, and changes in hydraulic head were the critical input parameter for the subsidence modeling. Simulation results indicate that strain had exceeded the approximate threshold for fissure formation of 0.02 to 0.06 % in the area of the identified fissures. The numerical model was used to predict future subsidence and potential earth fissures for flood control structures within the metro Phoenix area.

Author(s):  
S. Ye ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
J. Wu ◽  
P. Teatini ◽  
J. Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract. The Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou (known as "Su-Xi-Chang") area, located in the southern part of Jiangsu Province, China, experienced serious land subsidence caused by overly exploitation of groundwater. The largest cumulative land subsidence has reached 3 m. With the rapid progress of land subsidence since the late 1980s, more than 20 earth fissures developed in Su-Xi-Chang area, although no pre-existing faults have been detected in the surroundings. The mechanisms of earth fissure generation associated with excessive groundwater pumping are: (i) differential land subsidence, (ii) differences in the thickness of the aquifer system, and (iii) bedrock ridges and cliffs at relatively shallow depths. In this study, the Guangming Village Earth Fissures in Wuxi area are selected as a case study to discuss in details the mechanisms of fissure generation. Aquifer exploitation resulted in a drop of groundwater head at a rate of 5–6 m yr−1 in the 1990s, with a cumulative drawdown of 40 m. The first earth fissure at Guangming Village was observed in 1998. The earth fissures, which developed in a zone characterized by a cumulative land subsidence of approximately 800 mm, are located at the flank of a main subsidence bowl with differential subsidence ranging from 0 to 1600 mm in 2001. The maximum differential subsidence rate amounts to 5 mm yr−1 between the two sides of the fissures. The fissure openings range from 30 to 80 mm, with a cumulative length of 1000 m. Depth of bed rock changes from 60 to 140 m across the earth fissure. The causes of earth fissure generation at Guangming Village includes a decrease in groundwater levels, differences in the thickness of aquifer system, shallow depths of bedrock ridges and cliffs, and subsequent differential land subsidence.


Author(s):  
Yueting Li ◽  
Matteo Frigo ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Massimiliano Ferronato ◽  
...  

Abstract. Earth fissures accompanying anthropogenic land subsidence due to excessive aquifer exploitation create significant geohazards in China. Numerical models represent a unique scientific approach to predict the generation and development of earth fissures. However, the common geomechanical simulators fail to reproduce fissure development because they cannot be effectively applied in discontinuous mechanics. An innovative modelling approach developed recently is applied to develop a software to simulate fissure development. The pressure changes are used as forcing factors in a 3D geomechanical model, which combines Finite Elements and Interface Elements to simulate the deformation of the continuous aquifer system and the generation and sliding/opening of earth fissures. The approach has been applied to simulate the earth fissures at Guangming Village in Wuxi, China with land subsidence of more than 1 m caused by the overexploitation of the second confined aquifer. The modelling results highlight that the earth fissures at Guangming Village have been caused by tension and shear stresses. Based on the developed modelling approach and the application case study, a software platform is developed to provide a fast preliminary evaluation of the risk of fissure occurrence associated to land subsidence. The software allows for the simulation of a simplified 2D conceptual geologic model of earth fissures, which can be used to investigate how the main factors controlling the geomechanical response of the aquifer system, such as pressure changes, geometry of aquifer system, geomechanical properties, and depth of bedrock/fault etc.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Zhang ◽  
Yu-Qun Xue ◽  
Ji-Chun Wu ◽  
Jun Yu ◽  
Zi-Xin Wei ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4658
Author(s):  
Artur Guzy ◽  
Wojciech T. Witkowski

Land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal induced by mining is a relatively unknown phenomenon. This is primarily due to the small scale of such movements compared to the land subsidence caused by deposit extraction. Nonetheless, the environmental impact of drainage-related land subsidence remains underestimated. The research was carried out in the “Bogdanka” coal mine in Poland. First, the historical impact of mining on land subsidence and groundwater head changes was investigated. The outcomes of these studies were used to construct the influence method model. With field data, our model was successfully calibrated and validated. Finally, it was used for land subsidence estimation for 2030. As per the findings, the field of mining exploitation has the greatest land subsidence. In 2014, the maximum value of the phenomenon was 0.313 cm. However, this value will reach 0.364 m by 2030. The spatial extent of land subsidence caused by mining-induced drainage extends up to 20 km beyond the mining area’s boundaries. The presented model provided land subsidence patterns without the need for a complex numerical subsidence model. As a result, the method presented can be effectively used for land subsidence regulation plans considering the impact of mining on the aquifer system.


Author(s):  
Martin Hernandez-Marin ◽  
Ruben Esquivel-Ramirez ◽  
Mario Eduardo Zermeño-De-Leon ◽  
Lilia Guerrero-Martinez ◽  
Jesus Pacheco-Martinez ◽  
...  

Abstract. In the Aguascalientes valley, middle Mexico, the demand of groundwater from the local aquifer system was suddenly increased after the late 1970s. Since then, several related problems have been occurring or become critical such as land subsidence, ground fissuring, and low-magnitude earthquakes. The most recent data of vertical deformation from PSInSAR, groundwater levels, and earthquakes, has provided critical information regarding the relationship amongst all these processes. In particular, that related to land subsidence, earth fissuring and seismicity. Regarding this, more satellite imagery and data from GPS stations are being revised as a possibility of a more generalized vertical deformation derived with low-magnitude seismicity. A particular seismic event recorded on 6 April 2019 has revealed critical information on the close association between vertical displacements occurred in active faults and low-magnitude seismic events.


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