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Discretizing a discrete fracture model for simulation of radial transport
Author(s) -
Kozuskanich John C.,
Novakowski Kent S.,
Anderson Bruce C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2010wr010364
Subject(s) - discretization , fracture (geology) , mechanics , hydrogeology , point (geometry) , point source , borehole , diffusion , geology , mathematics , geometry , physics , mathematical analysis , geotechnical engineering , optics , thermodynamics
In this study we examine the required spatiotemporal discretization for numerical simulation of field‐scale radial solute transport using a discrete fracture model. Point‐to‐point and borehole‐to‐point scenarios considering a single fracture, hydrodynamic dispersion, and matrix diffusion were modeled in two‐dimensional (2‐D) and three‐dimensional (3‐D) domains, and were verified using existing semianalytical solutions. The results clearly show the need for accurate spatiotemporal discretization in numerical simulations of this type. Spatial discretization away from the injection point/well in the horizontal plane was found to be more demanding than away from the fracture in the vertical direction. Concentration control, which was used in the time step discretization of the transport solution, varied over two orders of magnitude depending on the scenario being modeled. The fine spatiotemporal discretization required may significantly limit the ability to simulate radial transport in more complex hydrogeological conditions (i.e., multiple fractures and injection points/wells) particularly in 3‐D because of long computational runtimes.