The effect of cavity wall irregularities on seepage exclusion from horizontal cylindrical underground openings

We have extended a quasi-linear approach for two-dimensional unsaturated Ro w analysis of seepage exclusion from cylindrical underground cavities, in h omogeneous porous media, to include the effect of cavity wall irregularity on the threshold percolation flux at which water first begins to drip into the opening. The analyses presented here are for ii-regularities described by a periodic undulation in the cavity wall and for a single angular pendan t protruding from the cavity roof Results from a semianalytical solution of the quasi-linearized flow equation indicate that roof pendant features hav ing a vertical scale approaching the inverse of the pore size distribution parameter. characterizing moisture retention of porous media, can reduce th e threshold percolation flux by an order of magnitude. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.