A new Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element simulator for solute transport in discrete fracture-matrix systems
Abstract
Fracture network simulators have extensively been used in the past for obtaining a better understanding of flow and transport processes in fractured rock. However, most of these models do not account for fluid or solute exchange between the fractures and the porous matrix, although diffusion into the matrix pores can have a major impact on the spreading of contaminants. In the present paper a new finite element code TRIPOLY is introduced which combines a powerful fracture network simulator with an efficient method to account for the diffusive interaction between the fractures and the adjacent matrix blocks. The fracture network simulator used in TRIPOLY features a mixed Lagrangian-Eulerian solution scheme for the transport in fractures, combined with an adaptive gridding technique to account for sharp concentration fronts. The fracture-matrix interaction is calculated with an efficient method which has been successfully used in the past for dual-porosity models. Discrete fractures and matrix blocks are treated as two different systems, and the interaction is modeled by introducing sink/source terms in both systems. It is assumed that diffusive transport in the matrix can be approximated as a one-dimensional process, perpendicular to the adjacent fracture surfaces. A direct solution scheme is employed to solve themore »
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (United States). Earth Sciences Div.
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels (Belgium); Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, Bonn (Germany)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 446324
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-39505; CONF-9607180-1
ON: DE97003404; TRN: AHC29706%%30
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 11. international conference on computational methods in water resources, Cancun (Mexico), 22-26 Jul 1996; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FRACTURED RESERVOIRS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS; SIMULATORS; T CODES; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; POROSITY; HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
Citation Formats
Birkholzer, J, and Karasaki, K. A new Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element simulator for solute transport in discrete fracture-matrix systems. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Birkholzer, J, & Karasaki, K. A new Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element simulator for solute transport in discrete fracture-matrix systems. United States.
Birkholzer, J, and Karasaki, K. 1996.
"A new Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element simulator for solute transport in discrete fracture-matrix systems". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/446324.
@article{osti_446324,
title = {A new Eulerian-Lagrangian finite element simulator for solute transport in discrete fracture-matrix systems},
author = {Birkholzer, J and Karasaki, K},
abstractNote = {Fracture network simulators have extensively been used in the past for obtaining a better understanding of flow and transport processes in fractured rock. However, most of these models do not account for fluid or solute exchange between the fractures and the porous matrix, although diffusion into the matrix pores can have a major impact on the spreading of contaminants. In the present paper a new finite element code TRIPOLY is introduced which combines a powerful fracture network simulator with an efficient method to account for the diffusive interaction between the fractures and the adjacent matrix blocks. The fracture network simulator used in TRIPOLY features a mixed Lagrangian-Eulerian solution scheme for the transport in fractures, combined with an adaptive gridding technique to account for sharp concentration fronts. The fracture-matrix interaction is calculated with an efficient method which has been successfully used in the past for dual-porosity models. Discrete fractures and matrix blocks are treated as two different systems, and the interaction is modeled by introducing sink/source terms in both systems. It is assumed that diffusive transport in the matrix can be approximated as a one-dimensional process, perpendicular to the adjacent fracture surfaces. A direct solution scheme is employed to solve the coupled fracture and matrix equations. The newly developed combination of the fracture network simulator and the fracture-matrix interaction module allows for detailed studies of spreading processes in fractured porous rock. The authors present a sample application which demonstrate the codes ability of handling large-scale fracture-matrix systems comprising individual fractures and matrix blocks of arbitrary size and shape.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/446324},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}