Simultaneous modelling of rock freezing and water seepage and its practical applications

All existing models of the rock freezing process are able to simulate the conductive heat transfer, but, however the convective terms are dominant in many cases, when water seepage also occurs. The origin of the majority of failures were caused by the effect of water seepage. A new integrated finite difference simulation technique has been developed to model rock freezing and water seepage simultaneously. The mathematical model, the base of numerical algorithm, the input and output data, the verification of the model using analytical solutions and a rather sophisticated practical case history are discussed in the paper. Finally, the first practical application of the model to support decisions on the proper system of freezing and on the proper combination with depressurization of water bearing layers is presented as well.