| Title |
Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Underground Dam Installation on Groundwater Levels and Storage Capacity |
| Authors |
최지안(Choi, Gian);윤설민(Yun, Sul-Min);김민규(Kim, Min-Gyu);장선우(Chang, Sun Woo) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.12652/Ksce.2025.45.5.0523 |
| Keywords |
가뭄;실내 모형 실험;지하댐;지하수 저장량 Drought;Laboratory experiment;Underground dam;Groundwater storage;MODFLOW |
| Abstract |
Underground dams are an effective method for securing water resources by installing subsurface barriers in regions with limited surface water availability or in preparation for drought. This study evaluated the effects of underground dam installation on groundwater levels and storage through laboratory-scale physical experiments. The porous medium of the experimental model was vertically layered with two types of glass beads to reproduce low-permeability and high-permeability aquifers. Steady-state water levels and flow rates were then measured under a constant inflow condition. Subsequently, a subsurface barrier was installed to block the main aquifer flow, allowing observation of upstream groundwater level changes and storage increase. The experimental results were compared with numerical simulations using MODFLOW, and sensitivity analyses were conducted under varying upstream inflow conditions. The results showed that the installation of underground dams increased upstream groundwater levels and storage. The increase in stored water was quantified using the Additional Water Storage Ratio (AWSR), which rose from 11 % to 27 % as the upstream inflow increased from 0.6 cm3/s to 1.6 cm3/s. This demonstrated that underground dams can ensure a stable level of groundwater storage even under conditions of reduced inflow. This study quantitatively verified the effectiveness of underground dams and demonstrated their potential as a practical measure for securing water resources under drought conditions. In addition, it provides essential baseline data for the development of future strategies for sustainable groundwater management. |