Numerical research on disastrous mechanism of seepage instability of karst collapse column considering variable mass effect

AbstractIn order to reveal the disastrous mechanism of seepage instability of karst collapse column considering variable mass effect, a variable mass fluid–solid coupling mechanical model of water inrush is established, by considering the random distribution characteristics of a collapse column. Taking Qianjin coal mine as the research background, based on the Weibull distribution theory, the heterogeneous distribution characteristics of rock mass is described, and COMSOL Multiphysics numerical simulation software is employed to simulate the seepage characteristics and inrush water changes in collapse columns under different conditions of homogeneity, water pressure, and initial porosity. The research results show that the greater the homogeneity is, the more water conduction channels are formed, and the porosity increases accordingly, when considering the influence of different homogeneity on the seepage characteristics of broken rock mass, which eventually leads to water inrush accidents and a sharp increase in water inflow. Besides, when studying the seepage evolution law of different water pressures on a broken rock mass, an elevation of water pressure dramatically increases the porosity and seepage rate of the water. Over time, the broken rock particles gradually migrate and the fine particles are transported and eroded by the water flow, resulting in changes in the seepage characteristics and the formation of potential water diversion channels. Finally, when taking into account the effect of different initial porosity on the fractured rock mass seepage characteristics, the greater the original porosity is, the higher the seepage velocity is, and the particle migration increases the permeability. This leads to a more pronounced conductive water passage formation, which reveals the disastrous mechanism of seepage instability of karst collapse column considering variable mass effect.