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Related Experiment Videos

Tracer dispersion in two-dimensional rough fractures.

G Drazer1, J Koplik

  • 1Benjamin Levich Institute and Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10031, USA.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|June 21, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Fractal fracture geometry reduces tracer diffusion and hydrodynamic dispersion. Lateral shifts in fracture surfaces can decrease dispersion, especially at low Péclet numbers, impacting solute transport models.

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Area of Science:

  • Geosciences
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Physics

Background:

  • Understanding solute transport in fractured porous media is crucial for environmental and geological applications.
  • Fracture surface roughness, often characterized by self-affine fractal geometry, significantly influences fluid flow and transport.
  • Previous studies have highlighted the impact of geometry on diffusion and dispersion, but detailed analysis in 2D fractures is ongoing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analytically and numerically investigate tracer diffusion and hydrodynamic dispersion in 2D fractures with self-affine roughness.
  • To quantify the reduction in diffusive transport due to fractal geometry and varying fracture apertures.
  • To analyze the effect of normal displacement and lateral shifts of fracture surfaces on dispersion.

Main Methods:

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  • Employed analytic methods and numerical simulations using the lattice-Boltzmann approach.
  • Implemented an improved boundary condition for tracer particles in numerical simulations to enhance accuracy.
  • Derived corrections to the diffusive coefficient using tortuosity for small aperture fluctuations and analyzed dispersion using the Lambda parameter.

Main Results:

  • Fractal geometry of fracture surfaces leads to a reduction in diffusive transport, dependent on fracture aperture.
  • Derived a correction to the diffusive coefficient in terms of tortuosity, accounting for irregular fracture geometry.
  • For laterally shifted fracture surfaces at very low Péclet numbers, convective transport was shown to reduce dispersion.

Conclusions:

  • Self-affine roughness in 2D fractures significantly impacts tracer diffusion and hydrodynamic dispersion.
  • The tortuosity of irregular fracture geometries provides a means to correct diffusive coefficients.
  • Lateral shifts in fracture surfaces offer a mechanism to mitigate dispersion, particularly under low flow conditions.