Water Inrush Risk Management in Karst Tunnel Engineering
Summary
Karst tunnel engineering presents unique challenges owing to the irregular dissolution features of carbonate rocks, which give rise to unpredictable voids, conduits and high‐permeability zones. When tunnelling intersects a water‐filled karst cavity or fracture network, sudden influxes of groundwater may occur, threatening worker safety, project schedules and structural integrity. Effective risk management hinges on a multidisciplinary approach that begins with detailed geological and hydrogeological characterisation—combining field mapping, geophysical surveys and borehole investigations—to delineate potential water pathways. During construction, real-time monitoring of groundwater pressure and tunnel face stability allows for early detection of anomalies. Numerical models and physical simulations are used to predict water inrush behaviour under varying stress and hydraulic conditions, guiding the design of preventive measures. Grouting, drainage consolidation and lining reinforcement are commonly employed to reduce permeability and increase surrounding-rock strength. The adoption of adaptive tunnel boring machine (TBM) parameters and shield support systems further mitigates inflow risks. This comprehensive strategy—spanning pre-construction forecasting, dynamic monitoring and targeted intervention—underpins safe and cost-effective karst tunnelling worldwide.
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Water Inrush Risk Management in Karst Tunnel Engineering publication trend
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Technical terms
Karst: A landscape formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks (typically limestone or dolomite), characterised by caves, sinkholes and conduits that influence groundwater flow.
Water inrush: A rapid influx of groundwater into an excavation or tunnel face, often through fractures or voids, posing safety and engineering challenges.
Grouting: The injection of cementitious or chemical suspensions into rock mass to fill voids, reduce permeability and improve mechanical strength around a tunnel.
Hydrogeological forecast: The assessment of groundwater distribution and pressure based on geological data, monitoring and geophysical surveys to predict inflow risks.
Cloud model: A hybrid uncertainty analysis tool that combines probability and fuzzy logic to quantify and visualise the degree of membership of risk factors across multiple levels.
References
- Water–rock two-phase flow model for water inrush and instability of fault rocks during mine tunnelling. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology (2023).
- Mechanism of water inrush in tunnel construction in karst area. Geomatics Natural Hazards and Risk (2016).
- Application of comprehensive prediction method of water inrush hazards induced by unfavourable geological body in high risk karst tunnel: a case study. Geomatics Natural Hazards and Risk (2017).
- Risk Assessment of Shield Tunnel Construction in Karst Strata Based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Cloud Model. Shock and Vibration (2021).
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