Wetting front instability in an initially wet unsaturated fracture
Experimental results exploring gravity-driven wetting front instability in a pre-wetted, rough-walled analog fracture are presented. Initial conditions considered include a uniform moisture field wetted to field capacity of the analog fracture and the structured moisture field created by unstable infiltration into an initially dry fracture. As in previous studies performed under dry initial conditions, instability was found to result both at the cessation of stable infiltration and at flux lower than the fracture capacity under gravitational driving force. Individual fingers were faster, narrower, longer, and more numerous than observed under dry initial conditions. Wetting fronts were found to follow existing wetted structure, providing a mechanism for rapid recharge and transport.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 138783
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-92-2791C; CONF-930408-28; ON: DE93008409; TRN: 93:009562
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 10. international high-level radioactive waste management conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 25-29 Apr 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1992]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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