Analogue model of ground ruptures due to groundwater pumping in an aquifer above a bedrock ridge
M. Cerca, D. Carreon-Freyre
Laboratorio de Mecanica de Geosistemas, Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autonoma
de Mexico, Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
P. Teatini
Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
ABSTRACT
We report preliminary results of physical experiments of rupture occurrence and propagation
associated with land subsidence driven by groundwater pumping and compare our analogue model
results with corresponding previously reported numerical results. In particular, we aim to
test the development of tensile stresses above a bedrock ridge that forms the base of an
aquifer system. The experiment reproduces the main deformation and ruptures observed in field
cases and in the numerical analysis.
