Simulation of ground failure due to groundwater pumping
C. Janna, M. Ferronato, G. Gambolati, P. Teatini
Dept. Mathematical Methods and Models for Scientific
Applications, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
ABSTRACT
Numerical modelling of failure generation due to groundwater pumping and prediction of fissure
location, distribution, and geometry is a difficult task. To this aim we use a geomechanical model based on
the structural equations of poroelasticity solved in a three-dimensional setting by the Finite Element (FE) -
Interface Element (IE) approach. While standard FE are used to represent a continuum, IE prove especially
suited to address the relative displacements of adjacent elements such as the opening and slippage of preexisting
faults or the generation of new fractures. The IE allow for the modelling of fissure/fault mechanics
using an elasto-plastic constitutive law based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The corresponding
FE-IE code is used for the prediction of localized differential subsidence and earth fissure activation/
generation with some representative examples discussed in the literature.
