Application of the Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell method to an abandoned coalfield in Belgium

peer reviewed ; The Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell (HFEMC) method is a flexible modelling technique particularly suited to mining problems. The principle of this method is to subdivide the modelled zone into several subdomains and to select a specific equation, ranging from the simple linear reservoir equation to the groundwater flow in porous media equation, to model groundwater flow in each subdomain. The model can be run in transient conditions, which makes it a useful tool for managing mine closure post-issues such as groundwater rebound and water inrushes. The application of the HFEMC... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Wildemeersch, Samuel
Brouyère, Serge
Orban, Philippe
Couturier, Julie
Dingelstadt, Claude
Veschkens, Mathieu
Dassargues, Alain
Dokumenttyp: journal article
Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
Verlag/Hrsg.: Elsevier Science
Schlagwörter: Groundwater model / Mining works / HFEMC method / SUFT3D / Engineering / computing & technology / Geological / petroleum & mining engineering / Ingénierie / informatique & technologie / Géologie / ingénierie du pétrole & des mines
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28951164
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
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Link(s) : https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/69485

peer reviewed ; The Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell (HFEMC) method is a flexible modelling technique particularly suited to mining problems. The principle of this method is to subdivide the modelled zone into several subdomains and to select a specific equation, ranging from the simple linear reservoir equation to the groundwater flow in porous media equation, to model groundwater flow in each subdomain. The model can be run in transient conditions, which makes it a useful tool for managing mine closure post-issues such as groundwater rebound and water inrushes. The application of the HFEMC method to an abandoned underground coal mine near the city of Liege (Belgium) is presented. The case study zone has been discretized taking advantage of the flexibility of the method. Then, the model has been calibrated in transient conditions based on both hydraulic head and water discharge rate observation and an uncertainty analysis has been performed. Finally, the calibrated model has been used to run several scenarios in order to assess the impacts of possible future phenomena on the hydraulic heads and the water discharge rates. Among others, the simulation of an intense rainfall event shows a quick and strong increase in hydraulic heads in some zones coupled with an increase in associated water discharge rates. This could lead to stability problems in local hill slopes. These predictions will help managing and predicting mine water problems in this complex mining system.