Borehole Backfill Slump Testing with Simulated Strata Fractures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies have not addressed the need for simulating and testing the slumping conditions of backfill material in boreholes, particularly in the context of karstic landscapes with cross fractures and karstic water infiltration, which affect heat transfer in vertical loops.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a lower and upper pipe body, a cushion layer, and a press platen is used to simulate strata fractures, allowing for the testing of backfill material slumping conditions by applying controlled loads and observing spreading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no test device is used, then existing technologies cannot simulate and test backfill material slumping conditions, but this lack of testing capability prevents understanding the relationship between slumping and load pressure, aperture, and material type
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent components: upper and lower pipe bodies, cushion layers for simulating fractures, press platens for applying load, and observation windows. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity and ease of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The device creates a simplified copy of the actual borehole environment by using transparent pipe bodies to represent the borehole, cushion layers to represent strata fractures, and controlled loading mechanisms to simulate in-situ stress conditions. This copying approach enables laboratory testing without requiring actual field conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified, then the device becomes easier to manufacture and operate, but it may not accurately simulate complex strata fracture conditions and backfill material slumping behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows independent adjustment of key parameters including load pressure (through the press platen mechanism), aperture size (through replaceable cushion layers of different thicknesses), and backfill material properties. This parameter controllability enables accurate simulation of various field conditions while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The press platen is designed to move vertically to apply controlled load pressure to the backfill material, and the cushion layers can be replaced to simulate different fracture conditions. This dynamic capability allows the device to simulate various stress states and fracture configurations without requiring complex fixed structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables simulation and testing of backfill material slumping under various load pressures, providing insights into the relationship between slumping and load, aperture, and material type, guiding the selection of suitable backfill materials and methods.
Implementation Method 1
the press platen can slide up and down in the lower pipe body and the upper pipe body to press a backfill material under the press platen
Implementation Method 2
the cushion layer is disposed between the first outer flange and the second outer flange to form a gap between the first outer flange and the second outer flange for simulating a strata fracture
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a device and a method for simulating and testing slump of a backfill material in a vertical borehole of a closed-loop. The device includes a lower pipe body, an upper pipe body, a cushion layer, and a press platen. The lower pipe body and the upper pipe body are coaxial and have the same inner diameter. An upper end of the lower pipe body is provided with a first outer flange, a lower end of the upper pipe body is provided with a second outer flange, and the first outer flange is fixedly connected to the second outer flange. The cushion layer is disposed between the first outer flange and the second outer flange to form a gap between the first outer flange and the second outer flange for simulating a strata fracture.