The karst depression with a natural negative landform
is favorable
for reservoir construction with less excavation work. The underground
air–water pressure would be complicated after the construction
of a reservoir that blocks the natural air–water channel (sinkhole,
karst channel, etc.). To develop a monitoring system for the reservoir,
a large-scale laboratory simulation test was carried out to study
the air-pressure evolution and water migration process during water
table fluctuation after the blockage of the sinkhole in a karst depression.
The results are as follows. (1) The positive pressure jacking effect
and the negative pressure sucking effect were observed in the karst
channel and inside the model during groundwater table fluctuation.
(2) A water imbibition test on the rock-like material was carried
out with layered resistivity and layered NMR measurement. The relationship
of resistivity and water saturation was developed based on Archie’s
equation. (3) The resistivity evolution during the test was monitored
using the high-density electronic resistivity imaging method. The
resistivity of the measured profile was sensitive to the variation
of the water level, and the water migration process was quantified
by the resistivity to water saturation conversion. (4) The suitability
of many techniques for monitoring a reservoir built on the karst depression
was discussed. The resistivity monitoring technique combined with
the air–water pressure monitoring technique could provide useful
information for safety and reliability assessment.