Peridynamics Modelling of Land Subsidence and Earth Fissure Due to Groundwater Extraction in the Picacho Basin, Arizona

The problems of land subsidence and earth fissures have become two of the most widespread geohazard on the world. In Picacho Basin, Arizona, US, severe land subsidence and earth fissures due to groundwater extraction from human activities were recorded. Several mechanisms are cited to explain the generation of geohazards. A recently developed non-local theory called peridynamics is discussed. Based on the peridynamic theory, a completely new numerical modelling system which is free from the limitations of classical continuum theory is applied to simulate the land subsidence and earth fissures in the study area. By comparing the calculated results with those observed in the field, it can be concluded the new modelling system is capable of not only the land subsidence but also the cracks development simulations. This provides a new method to monitor and predict geohazards in other places of the world, giving us support on the determination of mitigation policies.