Investigation of Gravity-Driven Infiltration Instabilities in Smooth and Rough Fractures Using a Pairwise-Force Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Model

Shigorina, Elena; Tartakovsky, Alexandre M.; Kordilla, Jannes

doi:10.2136/vzj2018.08.0159

Title: Investigation of Gravity-Driven Infiltration Instabilities in Smooth and Rough Fractures Using a Pairwise-Force Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Model

Journal Article · Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Vadose Zone Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2018.08.0159· OSTI ID:1572665

Shigorina, Elena ^[1]; Tartakovsky, Alexandre M. ^[2]; Kordilla, Jannes ^[1]

Univ. of Goettingen (Germany)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

In this work, we use a three-dimensional multiphase pairwise-force smoothed particle hydrodynamics (PF-SPH) method to simulate infiltration dynamics in smooth and rough fractures. We investigate the influence of roughness and injection rate on the fluid flow profile and flow velocity. Three types of fractures are considered with different degrees of roughness, including a smooth fracture. Both the rough and smooth fractures exhibit flow instability, fingering, and intermittent flow regimes for low infiltration rates. A stable fluid profile only is achieved for high fluxes when fractures are fully saturated. In all considered fractures, the mean flow velocity exponentially increases with increasing infiltration rate. To characterize the flow instability, we calculate standard deviations of the velocity in different sections of the fracture relative to the mean flow velocity. For the considered infiltration rates, we find that roughness decreases the flow velocity and increases the velocity standard deviations. Hence, we observe that the likelihood of discontinuities in flow regimes increases with the degree of roughness.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1572665

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-137935; TRN: US2100338

Journal Information:: Vadose Zone Journal, Vol. 18, Issue 1; ISSN 1539-1663

Publisher:: Soil Science Society of AmericaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 7 works

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