Investigation of alternative mechanisms of aquifer-system compaction and land subsidence in Shanghai

Y. Yuan, Y. S. Xu, S. L. Shen, N. Zhang

Research output: Journal article publicationConference articleAcademic researchpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Alternative subsidence mechanisms related to groundwater extration and surface loading of built infrastructure in Shanghai have been evaluated to explain continued subsidence despite the controlled reduction of groundwater extraction. The traditional theory of aquifer-system compaction embodied in the aquitard drainage model cannot fully explain this phenomenon. Two possible alternative mechanisms were studied previously: (i) surface loading attributed to urban construction; (ii) creep occuring in sandy deposits of aquifers. These mechanisms could not fully explain the observed subsidence. Two additional alternative mechanistic models are proposed that involve principles of load transfer considering the temporally and spatially redistributed stresses associated with groundwater extraction: (i) the Cosserat continuum mechanism, considering shear force on the permeable coarse-grained matrial in the aquifer due to hydraulic gradients in the aquifer; and (ii) internal erosion of fine-grained (clay and silt) particles within the aquifer. Initial results based on simulations incorporating Cosserat mechanics look promising.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13-15
Number of pages3
JournalProceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Volume372
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Nov 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event9th International Symposium on Land Subsidence, NISOLS 2015 - Nagoya, Japan
Duration: 15 Nov 201519 Nov 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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