Search results
1 – 10 of 132Chunhong Wang, Jihong Chen, Jin Wang and Jianping Chen
Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) can identify locations and factors of seepage in embankments. Inspired by the classical transient hot-wire method (THW), the focus of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) can identify locations and factors of seepage in embankments. Inspired by the classical transient hot-wire method (THW), the focus of this paper is to investigate the feasibility and propose a calibrated method of seepage velocity monitoring using the optical fiber DTS.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the definition and the measurement of thermal conductivity, the nominal thermal conductivity, which comprehensively reflects the influence of heat transfer and seepage factors, is proposed and the corresponding solution is also derived. Then, a flume testing platform of an embankment seepage monitoring system composed of the optical fiber heat-up subsystem, the seepage controlling subsystem and the optical fiber DTS subsystem is designed and built. Meanwhile, the data processing and assistant analysis subsystem (DPAAS) is also developed to effectively acquire the experimental data of concerned locations and obtain the corresponding nominal thermal conductivity under various seepage conditions. Based on these setups, a series of laboratory flume experiments are carried out under controlled velocities and heating powers.
Findings
The plots of recorded temperature rise versus natural logarithm of time allow the calculation of nominal thermal conductivities, and then the seepage velocity monitoring model particular to the experimental setup is successfully established with satisfactory precision.
Research limitations/implications
Considering the complexity of water flow in embankments, a seepage flume that matches the natural system, allowing for larger experimental model scales, various water temperatures, various engineering materials and a wider range of seepage velocities, should be investigated in future.
Practical implications
The combined THW and DTS method provides promising potential in real-time seepage monitoring of embankment dams with the help of the developed DPAAS.
Originality/value
In this work, we performed a flume testing of seepage velocity monitoring platform using optical fiber distributed-temperature sensing for embankments based on the transient hot-wire method. Through the testing of data, the seepage velocity monitoring model particular to the experimental setup was established. The results presented here are very encouraging and demonstrate that the DTS system can be used to monitor the temperature and the seepage factors in field applications.
Details
Keywords
Ò. À. Bèg, H.S. Takhar and V.M. Soundalgekar
Numerical results generated by a highly efficient finite‐difference method (originated by Keller for aerodynamical flows at the California Institute of Technology in 1970), and a…
Abstract
Numerical results generated by a highly efficient finite‐difference method (originated by Keller for aerodynamical flows at the California Institute of Technology in 1970), and a robust double shooting Runge‐Kutta‐Merson scheme are presented for the boundary layer equations representing the convection flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past a hot vertical flat plate embedded in a non‐Darcy porous medium. Viscous dissipation due to mechanical work is included in the temperature field equation. The computations for both solution techniques are compared at the leading edge (ξ = 0.0) and found to be in excellent agreement. The effects of the viscous heating parameter (Ec), thermal conductivity ratio (λ) and a Darcy porous parameter (Re/GrDa) on the fluid velocities, temperatures, local shear stress and wall heat transfer rate are discussed with applications to geothermal and industrial flows.
Details
Keywords
Jiang Chen, Junli Zheng and Feng Xiong
The spatial resolution of seepage monitoring methods based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensing technology is limited by the distance between measurement points…
Abstract
Purpose
The spatial resolution of seepage monitoring methods based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensing technology is limited by the distance between measurement points. Improving the spatial resolution for a given number of measurement points is a prerequisite for popularizing this technology in the seepage monitoring of rockfill dams. The purpose of this paper is to address this problem.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a mobile-distributed seepage monitoring method based on the FBG-hydrothermal cycling seepage monitoring system. In this method, the positions of the measurement points are changed by freely dragging the FBG sensing cluster within the inner tube of a dual-tube structure, consisting of an inner polytetrafluoroethylene tube and outer polyethylene of raised temperature resistance heating tube.
Findings
A seepage velocity calibration test was carried out using the improved monitoring system. The results showed that under a constant seepage velocity, the use of the dual-tube structure enables faster cooling, and the cooling rate accelerates with an increase in the diameter of the inner tube. The use of the dual-tube structure can improve the sensitivity of the seepage evaluation index ζv to the seepage velocity. When the inner diameter increases, ζv becomes more sensitive to the seepage velocity.
Originality/value
A mobile-distributed seepage monitoring method based on FBG sensing technology is proposed in which the FBG sensors are not fixed. Instead, the positions of the measurement points are changed to improve the spatial resolution. Meanwhile, the use of the dual-tube structure in the presented monitoring system can improve its sensitivity.
Details
Keywords
Tianliang Wang, Ya-Meng He, Zhen Wu and Jun-jun Li
This paper aims to study the impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata, the temperature field characteristics of the strata, and the strata…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata, the temperature field characteristics of the strata, and the strata process, closure time and thickness evolution mechanism of the frozen wall.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper several laboratory model tests were conducted, considering different groundwater seepage rate.
Findings
The results show that there is a significant coupling effect between the cold diffusion of artificial freezing pipes and groundwater seepage; when there is no seepage, temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata are symmetrically distributed, and the thickness of the frozen soil column/frozen wall is consistent during artificial freezing; groundwater seepage causes significant asymmetry in the temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata, and the greater the seepage rate, the more obvious the asymmetry; the frozen wall closure time increases linearly with the increase in the groundwater seepage rate, and specifically, the time length under seepage rate of 5.00 m d−1 is 3.2 times longer than that under no seepage; due to the erosion from groundwater seepage, the thickness of the upstream frozen wall decreases linearly with the seepage velocity, while that of the downstream frozen wall increases linearly, resulting in a saddle-shaped frozen wall.
Originality/value
The research results are beneficial to the optimum design and risk control of artificial freezing process in gravel strata.
Details
Keywords
Guotao Zhang, Weijie Cai, Xiaoyi Wang, Junpeng Xu, Yanguo Yin and Xicheng Wei
The purpose of this paper is to put forward the lubrication model of oil bearing and enrich the design theory under the condition of mixed lubrication.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to put forward the lubrication model of oil bearing and enrich the design theory under the condition of mixed lubrication.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed lubrication model of bilayer porous bearing is established. The effects of the working conditions on the lubrication performance and seepage behavior were analyzed.
Findings
Results show that the oil film pressure mainly occurs in the bearing convergence zone and contact pressure mainly occurs near the minimum film thickness. The oil infiltrates into the porous matrix in the contact area and precipitates out to the friction surface at the inlet of the contact area. The oil seepage velocity and dynamic pressure effect at the friction interface can be improved by reasonably matching the load and speed. With the decrease of the external load or increase of the rotating speed, the lubrication performance becomes well.
Originality/value
This study provides a reference for the design and application of oil bearing under harsh working conditions.
Details
Keywords
Mohammad Hajiazizi and Adel Graili
The purpose of this paper is to extend the scaled boundary radial point interpolation method (SBRPIM), as a novel semi-analytical scheme, to the analysis of the steady state…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend the scaled boundary radial point interpolation method (SBRPIM), as a novel semi-analytical scheme, to the analysis of the steady state confined seepage flows.
Design/methodology/approach
This method combines the advantages of the scaled boundary finite element method and the BRPIM. In this method, only boundary nodes are used, no fundamental solution of the problem is required, and as the shape functions constructed based on the RPIM satisfy the Kronecker delta function property, the boundary conditions of problems can be imposed accurately and easily.
Findings
Three numerical examples, including seepage flow through homogeneous and non-homogeneous soils, are analyzed in this paper. Comparing the flow net obtained by SBRPIM and other numerical methods confirms the ability of the proposed method in analyzing seepage flows. In addition, in these examples, the accuracy of the SBRPIM in modeling the velocity singularity at a sharp corner is illustrated. SBRPIM accurately models the singularity point in non-homogeneous and anisotropic soil.
Originality/value
SBRPIM method is a simple effective tool for analyzing various kinds of engineering problems. It is easy to implement for modeling the velocity singularity at a sharp corner. The proposed method accurately models the singularity point in non-homogeneous and anisotropic soil.
Details
Keywords
Anan Zhang, Jie Yang, Chunhui Ma, Lin Cheng and Liangcai Hu
The purpose of this paper is to form a numerical simulation method for permeability coefficient that can consider the characteristics of gravel gradation and further explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to form a numerical simulation method for permeability coefficient that can consider the characteristics of gravel gradation and further explore the effects of indoor test factors and gradation characteristics on the permeability coefficient of gravel.
Design/methodology/approach
The random point method is used to establish the polyhedral gravel particle model, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to construct the gravel permeability test sample with gradation characteristics and the finite element method is used to calculate the permeability coefficient to form a DEM-computational fluid dynamics combined method to simulate the gravel seepage characteristics. Then, verified by the indoor test results. Based on this method, the influence of sample size, treatment method of oversize particles and the content of fine particles on the permeability coefficient of gravel is studied.
Findings
For the gravel containing large particles, the larger size permeameter should be used as far as possible. When the permeameter size is limited, the equal weight substitution method is recommended for the treatment method of oversized particles. Compared with the porosity, the pore connectivity has a higher correlation with the permeability coefficient of the sample.
Research limitations/implications
Insufficient consideration of the movement of gravel particles in the seepage process is also an issue for further study.
Originality/value
The simulation method described in this paper is helpful for qualitative analysis, quantitative expression of pore size and makes up for the defect that the seepage characteristics in pores cannot be observed in laboratory tests.
Details
Keywords
Xiao Fang, Yajie Zeng, Feng Xiong, Jiang Chen and Fei Cheng
Seepage of the dam is an important safety problem, which may cause internal erosion of the structure. In the field of seepage monitoring in civil engineering, the distributed…
Abstract
Purpose
Seepage of the dam is an important safety problem, which may cause internal erosion of the structure. In the field of seepage monitoring in civil engineering, the distributed optical fiber sensing technology based on the temperature tracing method has been paid more attention due to its unique advantages of high sensitivity, good stability and high resolution. The purpose of this paper is to make a review of the existing related research, so as to facilitate the later scholars to understand and further study more systematically.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, three kinds of commonly used distributed fiber temperature measurement technologies are introduced. Based on the working principle, monitoring system, theoretical analysis, experimental research and engineering application of the fiber seepage monitoring technology, the present situation of dam seepage monitoring based on distributed fiber is reviewed in detail and their advantages and disadvantages are compared.
Findings
The thermal monitoring technology of seepage measurement depends on the accuracy of optical fiber temperature measurement (including the accuracy of the system and the rationality of the discrimination method), the correct installation of optical fiber and the quantitative analysis of temperature data. The accuracy of the current monitoring system can basically meet the existing measurement requirements, but the correct installation of optical fiber and the calibration of temperature data need to be further studied for different discrimination methods, and this field has great research value.
Originality/value
At present, there are many applications and research studies of optical fiber sensing in the field of structural health monitoring, and there are also reviews of related aspects. However, there is little or no review only in the field of seepage monitoring. This paper summarizes the research and application of optical fiber sensing in the field of seepage monitoring. The possibility of the gradient method to find its new prospect with the development of monitoring systems and the improvement of temperature resolution is discussed. The idea of extending the seepage monitoring method based on distributed optical fiber thermal monitoring technology to other monitoring fields is also given in the paper.
Details
Keywords
Abdol Mahdi Behroozi and Mohammad Vaghefi
The main purpose of this paper is presenting Thin Plates Spline-based Differential Quadrature (TPS-DQM) as a meshless numerical method to solve the steady and transient…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is presenting Thin Plates Spline-based Differential Quadrature (TPS-DQM) as a meshless numerical method to solve the steady and transient groundwater equation in complex geometry.
Design/methodology/approach
The computational nodes are randomly distributed in domain, and the governing equations of groundwater flow are solved, relying on the capability of present model for solving the partial differential equations (PDEs) in irregular domains. To show the accuracy of the proposed model, several seepage problems in both homogenous and non-homogenous soils are solved, and the results are compared with those existing analytical solution and well-known finite element-based software SEEP/W.
Findings
The results indicate that the present meshless method is capable of simulating steady-state and unsteady seepage problems, especially in complex geometry and it provides sufficient accuracy and reliability, despite the low computational effort and no need for additional parameters like shape factor.
Originality/value
The main advantage of the method is its meshless characteristic, which does not require structured grid generation and able to solve governing equation in arbitrary geometry.
Details
Keywords
Encarnación Martínez-Moreno, Gonzalo Garcia-Ros and Ivan Alhama
This study aims to present a new numerical model for the simulation of water flow through porous media of anisotropic character, based on the network simulation method and with…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present a new numerical model for the simulation of water flow through porous media of anisotropic character, based on the network simulation method and with the use of the free code Ngspice.
Design/methodology/approach
For its design, it starts directly from the flow conservation equation, which presents several advantages in relation to the numerical simulation of the governing equation in terms of the potential head. The model provides very precise solutions of streamlines and potential patterns in all cases, with relatively small meshes and acceptable calculation times, both essential characteristics when developing a computational tool for engineering purposes. The model has been successfully verified with analytical results for non-penetrating dams in isotropic media.
Findings
Applications of the model are presented for the construction of the flow nets, calculation of uplift pressures, infiltrated flow and average exit gradient in anisotropic scenarios with penetrating dams with and without sheet piles, being all this output information part of the decision process in ground engineering problems involving these retaining structures.
Originality/value
This study presents, for the first time, a numerical network model for seepage problems that is not obtained from the Laplace's governing equation, but from the water flow conservation continuity equation.
Details