State-of-the-Art Review on Seepage Instability and Water Inrush Mechanisms in Karst Collapse Columns

• Published in: Fluid dynamics & materials processing Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 1007 - 1028
• Main Authors: Cao, Zhengzheng, Zhang, Shuaiyang, Huang, Cunhan, Du, Feng, Li, Zhenhua, Wang, Shuren, Wang, Wenqiang, Zhai, Minglei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Duluth Tech Science Press 2025
• Subjects: Aquifers; Coal mining; Collapse; Coupling; Flow distribution; Hydrogeology; Karst; Mine waters; Mining; Rock masses; Seepage; State-of-the-art reviews
• ISSN: 1555-2578; 1555-256X; 1555-2578
• DOI: 10.32604/fdmp.2025.062738

Karst collapse columns typically appear unpredictably and without a uniform spatial arrangement, posing challenges for mining operations and water inrush risk assessment. As major structural pathways for mine water inrush, they are responsible for some of the most frequent and severe water-related disasters in coal mining. Understanding the mechanisms of water inrush in these collapse columns is therefore essential for effective disaster prevention and control, making it a key research priority. Additionally, investigating the developmental characteristics of collapse columns is crucial for analyzing seepage instability mechanisms. In such a context, this paper provides a comprehensive review of four critical aspects: (1) The development characteristics and hydrogeological properties of collapse columns; (2) Fluid-solid coupling mechanisms under mining-induced stress; (3) Non-Darcy seepage behavior in fractured rock masses; (4) Flow regime transitions and mass variation effects. Key findings highlight the role of flow-solid coupling in governing the seepage mechanisms of fractured rock masses within karst collapse columns. By synthesizing numerous studies on flow pattern transitions, this paper outlines the complete seepage process—from groundwater movement within the aquifer to its migration through the collapse column and eventual inflow into mine roadways or working faces—along with the associated transformations in flow patterns. Furthermore, the seepage characteristics and water inrush behaviors influenced by particle migration are examined through both experimental and numerical simulation approaches.