z-logo
Premium
The effect of concentration‐dependent surface tension on the flaw of water and transport of dissolved organic compounds: A pressure head‐based formulation and numerical model
Author(s) -
Smith James E.,
Gillham Robert W.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1029/93wr02745
Subject(s) - surface tension , discretization , vadose zone , pressure head , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , isothermal process , flux (metallurgy) , materials science , head (geology) , water flow , multiphase flow , two phase flow , thermodynamics , geotechnical engineering , geology , groundwater , mathematics , physics , mathematical analysis , geomorphology , metallurgy
Unsaturated flow and solute transport models in isothermal porous media generally assume surface tension at the air‐water interface to be constant. Yet many organic compounds, including a number of environmental interest, reduce surface tension in proportion to their aqueous phase concentrations. An isothermal saturated‐unsaturated flow and transport model has been developed that incorporates variable surface tension caused by varying solute concentration. The model was based on the pressure head form of the unsaturated flow equation and was solved using finite element methods. The extreme nonlinearities inherent in the problem necessitated spatial discretization on the scale of millimeters and initial temporal discretization on the scale of milliseconds. A comparison of simulations with and without varying surface tension showed that changes in surface tension could have significant effects on pressure head, water content, water flux, and solute flux. Implications relative to multiphase flow models, unsaturated zone contamination, and remedial technologies are discussed.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here