Radionuclide transport in fractured porous media -- Analytical solutions for a system of parallel fractures with a constant inlet flux

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(97)00037-8· OSTI ID:571622

Chen, C T; Li, S H ^[1]

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1. National Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu (Taiwan, Province of China). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics

Analytical solutions are developed for the problem of radionuclide transport in a system of parallel fractures situated in a porous rock matrix. A constant flux is used as the inlet boundary condition. The solutions consider the following processes: (a) advective transport along the fractures; (b) mechanical dispersion and molecular diffusion along the fractures; (c) molecular diffusion from a fracture to the porous matrix; (d) molecular diffusion within the porous matrix in the direction perpendicular to the fracture axis; (e) adsorption onto the fracture wall; (f) adsorption within the porous matrix, and (g) radioactive decay. The solutions are based on the Laplace transform method. The general transient solution is in the form of a double integral that is evaluated using composite Gauss-Legendre quadrature. A simpler transient solution that is in the form of a single integral is also presented for the case that assumes negligible longitudinal dispersion along the fractures. The steady-state solutions are also provided. A number of examples are given to illustrate the effects of various important parameters, including: (a) fracture spacing; (b) fracture dispersion coefficient; (c) matrix diffusion coefficient; (d) fracture width; (e) groundwater velocity; (f) matrix retardation factor; and (g) matrix porosity.

• OSTI ID: 571622
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 17; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POROUS MATERIALS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION