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2025 Vol.41, Issue 5 Preview Page
Physics-inspired and Data-driven Analyses of Fluid Flow in Seafloor Sediments

물리적 모델과 데이터에 기반한 해저지반 투수계수 예측

Chaewon Park1
,
Junghee Park2*
박 채원1
,
박 정희2*
1Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Incheon National Univ.
2Member, Assistant Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Incheon National Univ.
1정회원, 인천대학교 건설환경공학과 학석사과정
2정회원, 인천대학교 도시환경공학부 조교수
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 31-43
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Abstract

Climate change has led to a growing interest in seafloor geotechnical structures. Accurate prediction and assessment of the engineering properties of seafloor sediments provide reliable design parameters, which are essential for successful seafloor projects. In this study, we examine the critical role of diatoms in fluid flow within granular mixtures and propose a simplified analytical model based on experimental data for predicting hydraulic conductivity in seafloor sediments. We first prepare sand-diatom mixtures with varying diatom weight fractions and then conduct hydraulic conductivity tests. A comparison of the model and experimental results reveal three characteristic patterns of hydraulic conductivity as diatom content increases: (i) a sharp decrease due to diatom-filled pore spaces between sand grains, (ii) a transitional fluid flow with diatom-dominant pores, and (iii) a further reduction in hydraulic conductivity resulting from diatom-induced drag forces. This study highlights the effects of diatoms on fluid flow in seafloor sediments and demonstrates that a simple yet robust theoretical framework can effectively predict hydraulic conductivity in these sediments.

Keywords
Diatom
Fine fraction
Hydraulic conductivity
Prediction model
Seafloor sediment

기후 변화로 인한 해수면 상승으로 인해 해저 에너지 지반 구조물에 대한 개발이 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 해저 지반의 공학적 물성치를 정확히 예측하고 평가하는 것은 신뢰할 수 있는 설계 정수를 제공하며, 성공적인 해저지반 구조물 프로젝트에 기여할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 해저지반에 널리 분포하며 일반적인 흙보다 훨씬 낮은 비중을 가지는 다이아톰을 포함한 지반 조건이 유체의 흐름에 미치는 영향을 데이터에 기반한 물리적 모델과 실내실험을 통해 파악하고자 하였다. 첫번째로, 다이아톰 슬러리의 점성을 고려한 입자의 삼상관계 분석을 통해 유체의 흐름을 결정하는 다이아톰 함량 예측을 이론적으로 접근하였다. 두번째로, 모래-다이아톰 혼합 시료를 다양한 다이아톰 무게비에 따라 준비 후 실내 투수계수 시험을 수행하였다. 세번째로, 본 연구에서 얻은 실험결과와 방대한 데이터에 기반하여 제안된 투수계수 예측 모델을 비교하여 비표면적 관점에서 분석을 수행하였다. 분석 결과, 다이아톰 함량에 따른 투수계수 변화는 세가지 경향을 보여주었다: (i) 모래의 간극을 다이아톰이 채움으로써 일어나는 투수계수의 급격한 감소 구간, (ii) 다이아톰에 의하여 형성되는 간극의 크기가 지배적인 전이 구간, (iii) 다이아톰의 입자 표면을 따라 발생하는 동적 전단저항력 증가 구간. 본 연구에서는 다공성 입자 표면을 가지는 다이아톰이 해저지반의 유체 흐름에 미치는 영향을 비표면적 SS (i.e., drag force)과 간극비 e (i.e., pore size) 관점에서 분석하고 주어진 입자의 기본 물성치를 이용하여 단순화된 이론식을 통해 투수계수를 예측할 수 있음을 보여준다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 41
  • No :5
  • Pages :31-43
  • Received Date : 2025-07-31
  • Revised Date : 2025-08-29
  • Accepted Date : 2025-08-29
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2025.41.5.31
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