Volume of Fluid Implementation of Water Inrush and Escape Route Optimization in Tunnel

Abstract

Water inrush is the most common tunnel engineering disaster, which seriously threatens the life safety of construction personnel. Effective escape route planning is an important measure to reduce casualties. The effects of water inrush velocity, water inlet diameter, water inrush inlet position and water outlet condition on the tunnel water inrush are analyzed by numerical simulation based on VOF (volume of fluid). The results reveal that the tunnel with the water inrush side is the dominant channel of water inflow, and its water level and flow velocity are greater than that of the cross passage, which is the priority escape channel. After water flows to the tunnel port and rushes back, the water level in the tunnel increases rapidly, forming an obvious flow velocity and water level sudden change front. Increasing the water inrush velocity or the water inlet diameter, the increase of the water flowrate makes the water level and flow velocity in the tunnel larger. Water inflow from baseplate is more likely to form high water level and high flow velocity. Escape route recommendations: From the inside wall of the tunnel with water inrush side, through the inside wall of the cross passage to the tunnel without water inrush side to take refuge, and finally through the inside wall of the tunnel to escape from the tunnel with water inrush disaster. This study has certain guiding significance for the escape route design of tunnel water inrush engineering disasters.