Numerical Analysis of Multiphysics Coupling of Grout Penetration

Grout penetration in the unsaturated formation is a complex multiphysics process. In order to analyze more accurately the penetration characteristics of grout in saturated and unsaturated formations and estimate the range of grout penetration and grout compaction area, a multiphysics coupling model for unsaturated porous media was developed based on mixture theory. A novel five-degree-of-freedom eight-node quadrilateral axisymmetric Serendipity element was constructed through the secondary development of ABAQUS, so as to realize the numerical solution of soil deformation, soil porosity, pore pressure, and grout concentration distribution during grouting. The state variables, such as soil saturation and permeability coefficient, were updated in real time. The effects of grout water-cement ratio, grouting pressure, initial dry density, and water content of soil on the grouting in silty sand were analyzed with a three-dimensional axisymmetric grouting example, and the fitting curves of horizontal and vertical diffusion distance of grout with the above factors were obtained. The results show that the range of grout penetration is most significantly influenced by the water-cement ratio, followed by the grouting pressure, and it is least influenced by the water content and dry density of soil; the range of grout penetration increases with the increase in the water-cement ratio, especially when the water-cement ratio is greater than 1.0; a compacted area will be formed around the grouting pipe, where the soil is simultaneously subject to the grouting pressure and pore pressure; with the increase in the distance from the grouting pipe, the porosity of the soil gradually decreases in the compacted area and gradually recovers outside the compacted area, while the compacted area increases with the increase in the grouting pressure. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for calculating the grouting reinforcement in the soil.