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Updated: Oct 25, 2026

Visualizing Hyporheic Flow Through Bedforms Using Dye Experiments and Simulation
Published on: November 18, 2015
Non-reactive solute transport in coupled macro-meso-micro porous system: experiments and HYDRUS-2D modeling with
Aman Chandel1, Deepak Swami2, Nitin Joshi3
1Equilibrium, Climeverse Pvt. Lmt., India.
Abstract:
This study investigates the processes governing tracer transport in a stratified porous medium, which produces asymmetric breakthrough curves (BTCs) with multiple inflection points. Such complex BTCs are often analyzed using multi-porosity or multi-permeability flow and transport models. However, these models introduce increased parameter complexity and associated sensitivity, necessitating thorough evaluation. In this context, we coupled the Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) and Parameter Estimation (PEST) with the DualPerm (DP) HYDRUS module to quantify parameter sensitivity and enhance BTC representation. A micro-aquifer experiment was conducted on a stratified porous medium using a non-reactive tracer for testing the capabilities of the developed framework. The sensitivity analysis aimed to examine how different model parameters contribute to different segments of the asymmetric BTC. This analysis revealed that the fracture and immobile domain parameters dominate early tracer breakthrough (64% of the total sensitivity). In comparison, the matrix parameters and the porosity of the immobile region contributed 48% of the total sensitivity during the rising limb period. The prolonged tailing limb was primarily influenced by the matrix parameters (porosity and permeability, 91% sensitivity), with the porosity of the immobile region adding only 4%. It was also established that BTC-based parameter estimation emphasizes peak concentration, but often overlooks critical features like mass recovery, solute residence time, and spatial variance. An alternate approach, which is based on cumulative solute mass recovery, showed efficiency in capturing complex features of experimental BTCs such as inflection points, peak timing, and long-tailing behavior. The proposed framework enhances the capability of the HYDRUS (DualPerm) module to investigate various flow and transport processes, improving mass recovery estimation compared to conventional BTC-based methods.
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