Temperature effect study for dynamic water grouting in filled fractured media via a novel physical simulation approach

Abstract

The flow and solidification of grouting slurry are highly temperature sensitive, limiting ambient temperature grouting schemes under high temperature conditions. This study developed a physical simulation method for grouting in filled fractures under high temperature dynamic water conditions. First, the time dependent viscosity of slurry at different temperatures was characterized. Grouting experiments were then conducted to reveal the slurry blocking behavior in filled fractures under dynamic water and temperature effects. The results show that: 1) Under ambient temperature conditions, lower permeability increases the grouting pressure. The grouting pressures of the cement slurry and cement – sodium silicate (C–S) slurry increased by up to 32.26% and 247.06%, respectively, while lateral diffusion increased and downstream diffusion decreased. 2) High temperatures markedly alter the C–S slurry rheology. A greater temperature difference leads to faster pressure buildup. High temperatures promote gelation of slurry in the downstream direction, enhancing lateral spread and restricting downstream diffusion, thereby improving blocking performance. At 75 s, the upstream diffusion range under high temperature conditions increased by 23.7% compared to that under ambient temperature conditions. 3) High temperatures accelerate the C–S slurry setting. During construction, the grouting pressure should be carefully controlled, and borehole spacing and stage length should be adjusted appropriately. These findings support slurry selection, pressure control, and grouting design in high temperature filled fractures.

Keywords

temperature effect / filled fractures / dynamic water grouting / blocking behavior / viscosity evolution

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