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Microfluidic observation of the onset of reactive‐infitration instability in an analog fracture
Author(s) -
Osselin F.,
Kondratiuk P.,
Budek A.,
Cybulski O.,
Garstecki P.,
Szymczak P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl069261
Subject(s) - instability , mechanics , advection , microfluidics , fracture (geology) , materials science , gypsum , infiltration (hvac) , geology , physics , nanotechnology , composite material , thermodynamics
Reactive‐infiltration instability plays an important role in many geophysical problems yet theoretical models have rarely been validated experimentally. We study the dissolution of an analog fracture in a simple microfluidic setup, with a gypsum block inserted in between two polycarbonate plates. By changing the flow rate and the distance between the plates, we are able to scan a relatively wide range of Péclet and Damkhöhler numbers, characterizing the relative magnitude of advection, diffusion, and reaction in the system. We quantify the characteristic initial wavelengths of the perturbed fronts during the onset of instability. The results agree well with theoretical predictions based on linear stability analysis, thus experimentally validating current reactive‐infiltration instability theory and opening new opportunities for experimental assessment of mineral reactivity.