Multiphysics Finite Element Analysis of Limestone Dissolution Case Study: Northern Plains Limestone Bed of Hamedan

Document Type : Research Papers

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate , Civil Engineering Department, Bu-Ali Sina University Hamedan, Iran.

2 Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Bu-Ali Sina University Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

Fluid flow in the karst bed leads to enlarged voids and cavities and increases the risk of instability and consequently, catastrophic events such as sinkholes may occur. In this paper, the dissolution of limestone was simulated numerically by employing a finite element code capable of taking into account multi-physics governing equations and incorporating mesh movement and updating . In the first step, the finite element code was identified based on dissolution experimental results concerning three regions of Hamekasi, Ali Sadr, and Abshineh in the northern plains of hamedan city. In the second step, the temporal geometrical evolution of a vertical cavity in the dissolution process during time for the mentioned limestone beds were studied and compared. The results showed that the proposed numerical model has very good capabilities in reproducing experimental data. The results of the dissolution in a vertical hole indicate that entering fluid velocity in comparison with the initial diameter cavity, plays an important role in the hole widening. The widening trend of the hole in the inlet and outlet sections is the same for different initial hole diameters, however, the width of the inlet section of the flow is greater than the width of the middle and outlet sections.

Keywords

References

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Civil Engineering Infrastructures Journal
Volume 59, Issue 1
June 2026
Pages 29-43

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 26 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 21 July 2024

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