Premium
The influence of coatings and fills on flow in fractured, unsaturated tuff porous media systems
Author(s) -
Soll Wendy,
Birdsell Kay
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1029/97wr02406
Subject(s) - imbibition , inflow , porous medium , classification of discontinuities , saturation (graph theory) , materials science , conductivity , porosity , geotechnical engineering , fracture (geology) , coating , infiltration (hvac) , geology , matrix (chemical analysis) , composite material , chemistry , mathematics , mathematical analysis , oceanography , botany , germination , combinatorics , biology
A numerical study of a single fracture embedded in a porous matrix was performed to investigate the role of fracture coatings and fills on water movement in permeable, fractured porous media. The variables considered were conductivity and continuity of fracture coatings; location, length, and conductivity of fracture fills; combinations of fills and coatings; initial matrix saturation; and inflow boundary conditions. Results from the simulations indicate that in low‐saturation, high‐capillarity tuff systems, the conditions under which fractures act as rapid flow paths are limited. These conditions include a continuous coating with conductivity several orders of magnitude lower than that of the neighboring matrix, and large inflow rates. However, as initial matrix saturation increases, the amount of fracture flow also increases. Discontinuities in coatings substantially reduce their effectiveness in preventing matrix imbibition. The presence of any coating, however, does produce increased infiltration depths. Fills appear to be effective barriers to fracture flow.