Proceedings of the 2025 8th International Conference on Civil Architecture, Hydropower and Engineering Management (CAHEM 2025)

Research on the Mechanism and Treatment Design of Water Inrush in Extra-Long Tunnels Underpassing Karst Vertical Seepage Zones

Authors
Peng Wang1, Yaming Qu1, Yingying Tu1, *, He Chen1, Yong Zheng1, Yuefei Li2
1Broadvision Engineering Consultants CO., LTD., Tuodong Road 9, 650041, Kunming, China
2Yunnan Yunling Expressway Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd., South Ring Road 262, 650200, Kunming, China
*Corresponding author. Email: 529579116@qq.com
Corresponding Author
Yingying Tu
Available Online 26 February 2026.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6239-600-5_24How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Tunnel engineering; Karst; Water Inrush Mechanism; Hydrogeology; Treatment Design; Drainage Adit
Abstract

The Dongshan Extra-Long Tunnel passes through an area with intensely developed karst features, and multiple water inrushes occurred during both its construction and operation periods. To investigate the hydrogeological mechanisms and implement corresponding treatments, this study conducted a specialized hydrogeological survey of the tunnel site and analyzed data related to karst characteristics exposed during construction. Microtremor detection and hydrogeological drilling were also conducted at the water inrush points. The results indicate that the tunnel is located in a vertical karst seepage zone, which acts as a recharge and runoff area within the groundwater system. The network of karst conduits is well-developed, leading to a maximum daily water inrush of 748,600 m3/d into the tunnel during extreme rainstorm events. Based on the mechanism of water inrush and the calculated once-in-a-century water inrush, a comparative analysis was conducted between the drainage gallery and drainage adit solutions for treating the water inrush. The comparison concluded that the drainage adit solution is safer, more economical, and more reliable. Final optimization of the drainage adit scheme incorporated key factors including water inflow direction and construction logistics. This included the addition of branch drainage adits to capture water from newly revealed karst conduits during construction and channel it to the main adit. These branch adits also doubled as strategic vehicle turnaround chambers. This research methodology provides strong guidance for analyzing and treating similar engineering challenges encountered in tunnel construction.

Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2025 8th International Conference on Civil Architecture, Hydropower and Engineering Management (CAHEM 2025)
Series
Advances in Engineering Research
Publication Date
26 February 2026
ISBN
978-94-6239-600-5
ISSN
2352-5401
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6239-600-5_24How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Peng Wang
AU  - Yaming Qu
AU  - Yingying Tu
AU  - He Chen
AU  - Yong Zheng
AU  - Yuefei Li
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/26
TI  - Research on the Mechanism and Treatment Design of Water Inrush in Extra-Long Tunnels Underpassing Karst Vertical Seepage Zones
BT  - Proceedings of the 2025 8th International Conference on Civil Architecture, Hydropower and Engineering Management (CAHEM 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 243
EP  - 256
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-600-5_24
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-600-5_24
ID  - Wang2026
ER  -