Talik formation in the flank shore of water-retaining structure in permafrost area

Regular water and energy supply in permafrost areas are vitally important conditions for inhabitants of the large North territories of Russia, Canada, US and Alpine areas of China. Dam and flank shore stability is the key point for safety of reservoir (power pool, water supply, tailing pit, etc.). In permafrost areas stability of many engineering structures, including hydraulic work, associated with thawing- freezing process. As a result of it we can have the loss of mechanical properties causing destructive of the unit. Emergency situation of the unit we have when seepage occurs in originated permeable talik zone adjoining to reservoir. In our work we numerically analysed conditions causing origin and development of talik near reservoir builted in permafrost conditions. The results of 2D heat-mass transfer modelling indicate that the development of the talik formation strongly depends on the specific thermal and hydraulic material parameters, thickness of the layer covering talik, seasonal temperature trend and the winter snow front insulating ground rocks.