Performance Evaluation of Critical Geosystems Using Multiscale Methods

世界各国依靠各种岩土基础设施进行防洪、蓄水和水力发电。这些关键的地质系统通常涉及多孔介质与结构元件的相互作用，如溢洪道墙、与出口工程相关的管道或毗邻的支撑堤防的重力结构。在洪水期间的高水位或在没有明显触发事件的正常运行条件下，防洪堤或堤防大坝的内部侵蚀可能会发生破坏。后者可归因于各种因素，包括现有树根的腐烂或入侵的野生动物活动，导致防洪堤或堤坝内的局部空洞一直隐藏，直到土结构的安全受到威胁。在世界范围内，由于这些因素造成的土质结构破坏的平均成本每年超过数十亿美元。在土工系统中，土壤劣化和与侵蚀有关的破坏的负面影响不仅限于土工结构。现有建筑物下面或附近的管道泄漏也会引起突然的、不为人知的故障。

Countries around the world rely on various geotechnical infrastructure for flood control, water storage and hydroelectric power generation. These critical geosystems typically involve a porous media interacting with structural elements such as spillway walls, conduits associated with outlet works or adjoining gravity structures supporting the embankment. The failure of levees, or embankment dams by internal erosion may occur under high water levels during flood events or under normal operating conditions without an apparent triggering event. The latter can be attributed to various factors including decay of existing tree roots or invasive wildlife activities that result in local voids within levees or embankment dams that remain concealed until the safety of the earth structure is jeopardized. The worldwide average cost of failed or damaged earthen structures due to these factors exceeds billions of dollars per year. The negative impact of soil deterioration and erosion-related failure in geosystems is not limited to earth structures. Leaking pipes under or near existing structures are also known to cause sudden and unnoticed failure.