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Title: An Improvement to DCPT: The Particle Transfer Probability as a Function of Particle's Age

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/787039· OSTI ID:787039

Multi-scale features of transport processes in fractured porous media make numerical modeling a difficult task of both conceptualization and computation. Dual-continuum particle tracker (DCPT) is an attractive method for modeling large-scale problems typically encountered in the field, such as those in unsaturated zone (UZ) of Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The major advantage is its capability to capture the major features of flow and transport in fractured porous rock (i-e., a fast fracture sub-system combined with a slow matrix sub-system) with reasonable computational resources. However, like other conventional dual-continuum approach-based numerical methods, DCPT (v1.0) is often criticized for failing to capture the transient features of the diffusion depth into the matrix. It may overestimate the transport of tracers through the fractures, especially for the cases with large fracture spacing, and predict artificial early breakthroughs. The objective of this study is to develop a new theory for calculating the particle transfer probability to captures the transient features of the diffusion depth into the matrix within the framework of the dual-continuum random walk particle method (RWPM).

Research Organization:
Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI ID:
787039
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 4 Jun 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English