Numerical simulation of hydrodynamic characteristics during the diversion closure in a horizontal tunnel

Based on water inrush accident of 1841 working face of Desheng Coal Mine in Wu’an, Hebei province, China, an evaluation model of hydrodynamic characteristics of the project is set up and simulated using Matlab. It is assumed that the pipe flow would transform into seepage flow when the aggregates are plugged into the water inrush channel and the seepage flow would disappear along with grouting process. The simulation results show that the flow velocity will increase with an increase in height of aggregates accumulation body during the aggregates filling process; the maximum seepage velocity occurs on the top of plugging zone; and the water flow decreases with increasing plugging height of water inrush channel. Finally, the field construction results show that the water inrush channel can be plugged effectively by the compacted body prepared with aggregate and cement slurry.