Open AccessA Quasilinear Model for Solute Transport under Unsaturated Flow
Author(s) -
Houseworth J. E.,
Leem J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
vadose zone journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.036
H-Index - 81
ISSN - 1539-1663
DOI - 10.2136/vzj2009.0022
Subject(s) - scalar (mathematics) , flow (mathematics) , hydraulic conductivity , isotropy , mechanics , convection–diffusion equation , dispersion (optics) , steady state (chemistry) , homogeneous , thermodynamics , mathematics , chemistry , physics , geology , soil science , geometry , soil water , quantum mechanics , optics
We developed an analytical solution for solute transport under steady‐state, two‐dimensional, unsaturated flow and transport conditions for the investigation of high‐level radioactive waste disposal. The two‐dimensional, unsaturated flow problem is treated using the quasilinear flow method for a system with homogeneous material properties. Dispersion is modeled as isotropic and is proportional to the effective hydraulic conductivity. This leads to a quasilinear form for the transport problem in terms of a scalar potential that is analogous to the Kirchhoff potential for quasilinear flow. The solutions for both flow and transport scalar potentials take the form of Fourier series. The particular solution given here is for two sources of flow, with one source containing a dissolved solute. The solution method may easily be extended, however, for any combination of flow and solute sources under steady‐state conditions. The analytical results for multidimensional solute transport problems, which previously could only be solved numerically, also offer an additional way to benchmark numerical solutions.