Prediction of Earth Fissures Development in Sirjan

In this study, the relationship between the decrease of the water level of an aquifer, the sinking of the land surface (subsidence) and the generation of earth fissures is investigated. Comparing with the real field data for Sirjan land, the obtained results are confirmed. A decrease in ground water level will causes an increase in effective stresses at clay layers which results the consolidation of lower soil layers. Modeling of this behavior is possible using finite element technique and it baneful to predict the future settlement and the location of potential fissures. It is possible to approximate the model by assuming elastic time dependent behavior due to decrease in water table level. Also a finite element model is established and related to classical soil mechanics consolidation parameters in this study. To finding the water level of an aquifer, WTAQ computer program is used in this study.