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Title: Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory

Abstract

A theory is presented for numerically simulating the movement of water in variably saturated deformable porous media. The theoretical model considers a general three-dimensional field of flow in conjunction with a one-dimensional vertical deformation field. The governing equation expresses the conservation of fluid mass in an elemental volume that has a constant volume of solids. Deformation of the porous medium may be nonelastic. Permeability and the compressibility coefficients may be nonlinearly related to effective stress. Relationships between permeability and saturation with pore water pressure in the unsaturated zone may be characterized by hysteresis. The relation between pore pressure change and effective stress change may be a function of saturation. In the transition zone where pore water pressure is less than atmospheric but greater than air entry value, soil moisture diffusivity as used in soil physics and coefficient of consolidation as used in soil mechanics are shown to be conceptually equivalent. It is believed that this model will be of practical interest in studying saturated--unsaturated systems undergoing simultaneous desaturation and deformation.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of California, Berkeley
OSTI Identifier:
6029253
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Water Resour. Res.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; GROUND WATER; FLUID FLOW; BOUNDARY LAYERS; COMPRESSIBILITY; HYDROLOGY; HYSTERESIS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MICROSTRUCTURE; PERMEABILITY; POROSITY; POROUS MATERIALS; SATURATION; SOILS; SOLIDS; STRESSES; THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; VOLUME; CRYSTAL STRUCTURE; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; LAYERS; MATERIALS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; WATER; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989); 152000 - Geothermal Data & Theory; 150200 - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems

Citation Formats

Narashimhan, T N, and Witherspoon, P A. Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory. United States: N. p., 1977. Web. doi:10.1029/WR013i003p00657.
Narashimhan, T N, & Witherspoon, P A. Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR013i003p00657
Narashimhan, T N, and Witherspoon, P A. 1977. "Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR013i003p00657.
@article{osti_6029253,
title = {Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory},
author = {Narashimhan, T N and Witherspoon, P A},
abstractNote = {A theory is presented for numerically simulating the movement of water in variably saturated deformable porous media. The theoretical model considers a general three-dimensional field of flow in conjunction with a one-dimensional vertical deformation field. The governing equation expresses the conservation of fluid mass in an elemental volume that has a constant volume of solids. Deformation of the porous medium may be nonelastic. Permeability and the compressibility coefficients may be nonlinearly related to effective stress. Relationships between permeability and saturation with pore water pressure in the unsaturated zone may be characterized by hysteresis. The relation between pore pressure change and effective stress change may be a function of saturation. In the transition zone where pore water pressure is less than atmospheric but greater than air entry value, soil moisture diffusivity as used in soil physics and coefficient of consolidation as used in soil mechanics are shown to be conceptually equivalent. It is believed that this model will be of practical interest in studying saturated--unsaturated systems undergoing simultaneous desaturation and deformation.},
doi = {10.1029/WR013i003p00657},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6029253}, journal = {Water Resour. Res.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 13:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977},
month = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977}
}