Aqueous flow and transport in analog systems of fractures embedded in permeable matrix

Torben Obel Sonnenborg, Michael Brian Butts, Karsten Høgh Jensen

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Two-dimensional laboratory investigations of flow and transport in a fractured permeable medium are presented. Matrix blocks of a manufactured consolidated permeable medium were arranged together to create fractures in the spaces between the blocks. Experiments examined flow and transport in four different configurations: (1) matrix only, (2) and (3) matrix blocks containing single fractures of different mean apertures, and (4) a brickwork pattern setup simulating a tortuous multiple fracture network. The observed partitioning of flow and solute concentrations suggested mass exchange between the fractures and the matrix was occurring. An analysis of the experimental results using a discrete fracture model and a range of constant aperture models showed that this approach did not capture the correct flow mechanisms. Subsequent simulations including spatial variations of the fracture aperture were better able to describe the experimental observations and to show that these variations cause mass exchange between the fracture and matrix.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalWater Resources Research
    Volume35
    Issue number3
    Pages (from-to)719-729
    ISSN0043-1397
    Publication statusPublished - 1999

    Keywords

    • CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT
    • SINGLE FRACTURE
    • FIELD EXPERIMENTS
    • TRANSFORM GALERKIN TECHNIQUE
    • SOLUTE TRANSPORT
    • HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
    • FLUID-FLOW
    • MASS-TRANSPORT
    • TRACER TESTS
    • POROUS-MEDIA

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Aqueous flow and transport in analog systems of fractures embedded in permeable matrix'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this