A Novel Grouting Simulation Method Considering Diffusion and Loss of Slurry in Flowing Water: Interphase Miscible-Transport Time-Tracking (IM-3T) Method

Grouting is a complex process involving interactions of slurry and water phase. The viscosity of slurry is of spatiotemporal variation and significant loss of slurry was observed in grouting processes. These phenomena are difficult to address in numerical models. Therefore, a numerical method of grouting considering the loss of slurry is developed in this work. Firstly, by solving the transport time of slurry, the spatiotemporal evolution of slurry viscosity is implemented. Secondly, by assuming that the water phase and slurry phase is miscible, a diffusion term is added to the transport equation of the slurry volume fraction and the dispersed phase interface of slurry and water is realized. In addition, the simulation result of the new method is compared with our precious experiment data. We show that better agreement is obtained in the variation of grouting pressure, flow rate and slurry loss rate. The effectiveness of the method is verified. Finally, the applicability of our method in engineering scale is verified at engineering scales. The results show that this method could address the interphase miscibility of slurry and water in grouting processes, and it can provide a certain theoretical reference for grouting practice in engineering.