Open Access

ARTICLE

Simulation of Underground Reservoir Stability of Pumped Storage Power Station Based on Fluid-Structure Coupling

Peng Qiao¹, Shuangshuang Lan^1,*, Hongbiao Gu², Zhengtan Mao¹

1 Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100020, China
2 College of Transportation Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210000, China

* Corresponding Author: Shuangshuang Lan. Email:

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2024, 139(2), 1381-1399. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.045662

Received 03 September 2023; Accepted 17 November 2023; Issue published 29 January 2024

Abstract

Based on global initiatives such as the clean energy transition and the development of renewable energy, the pumped storage power station has become a new and significant way of energy storage and regulation, and its construction environment is more complex than that of a traditional reservoir. In particular, the stability of the rock strata in the underground reservoirs is affected by the seepage pressure and rock stress, which presents some challenges in achieving engineering safety and stability. Using the advantages of the numerical simulation method in dealing deal with nonlinear problems in engineering stability, in this study, the stability of the underground reservoir of the Shidangshan (SDS) pumped storage power station was numerically calculated and quantitatively analyzed based on fluid-structure coupling theory, providing an important reference for the safe operation and management of the underground reservoir. First, using the COMSOL software, a suitable mechanical model was created in accordance with the geological structure and project characteristics of the underground reservoir. Next, the characteristics of the stress field, displacement field, and seepage field after excavation of the underground reservoir were simulated in light of the seepage effect of groundwater on the nearby rock of the underground reservoir. Finally, based on the construction specifications and Molar-Coulomb criterion, a thorough evaluation of the stability of the underground reservoir was performed through simulation of the filling and discharge conditions and anti-seepage strengthening measures. The findings demonstrate that the numerical simulation results have a certain level of reliability and are in accordance with the stress measured in the project area. The underground reservoir excavation resulted in a maximum displacement value of the rock mass around the caverns of 3.56 mm in a typical section, and the safety coefficient of the parts, as determined using the Molar-Coulomb criterion, was higher than 1, indicating that the project as a whole is in a stable state.

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