Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole

Understanding sinkhole-drainage capacity and functioning is critical to realizing the effects that may be created when direct­ing stormwater drainage into sinkholes. In this paper, the ba­sics of sinkhole drainage are reviewed in terms of point vortex flow created by drainage down a sinkhole swallet...

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Veröffentlicht in:Acta carsologica 2010-06, Vol.39 (2)
1. Verfasser: Field, Malcolm S.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Understanding sinkhole-drainage capacity and functioning is critical to realizing the effects that may be created when direct­ing stormwater drainage into sinkholes. In this paper, the ba­sics of sinkhole drainage are reviewed in terms of point vortex flow created by drainage down a sinkhole swallet. Then, several different, relatively simple sinkhole shapes are presented and mathematical models developed to simulate drainage from in­flowing water. The models emphasize the significance of drain­age rate as a function of sinkhole shape and sinkhole wetted cross-sectional area relative to changes in water level and time. Model simulations provide insights into the sensitivity of sink­holes to inflow rates and water-level changes withtime. Ma­jor findings include insights into the rapidity by whichinflows may increase the water level in a sinkhole and the significance of sinkhole shape and cross-sectional area as it relates to sink­hole drainage rate. The numerical solution is completely gen­eral so it allows for varying inflow rates in any manner desired. Application of the model to real sinkholes should assist in the management of sinkhole-flooding problems.
ISSN:0583-6050
1580-2612
DOI:10.3986/ac.v39i2.105