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http://dx.doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2020.3.223

Applicability of Pulse Tests to Estimate Transmissivity in Crystalline Rock  

Park, Kyung-Woo (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Park, Byeong-Hak (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Ko, Nak-Youl (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Ji, Sung-Hoon (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Publication Information
The Journal of Engineering Geology / v.30, no.3, 2020 , pp. 223-235 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, pulse tests were undertaken at an underground research facility, as part of in-situ hydraulic tests, to derive the hydrogeological characteristics of crystalline rock. The applicability of pulse tests for estimating the transmissivity of a fractured rock mass was evaluated by comparing the results to those from a slug test. Results from the pulse and slug tests were very similar for the test section, with both tests indicating low transmissivity. A slight difference between the results of pulse and slug tests, however, was observed in the section with the transmissivity larger than 1 × 10-8 ㎡/s, which is likely due to the difference in the radii of influence of the tests. Furthermore, when the pulse test was conducted in permeable zones where transmissivity was larger than 1 × 10-7 ㎡/s, it was difficult to produce accurate results. This lack of accuracy was due to the rapid recovery of the hydraulic head in these permeable test zones. When performing pulse tests, it was important to accurately measure the pressure when valves were opened and closed in order to apply the head change in the test section. Although it is difficult to derive the hydrogeological characteristics from pulse tests in areas with high permeability, these tests can be used as an economical test method for identifying hydrogeological characteristics in a relatively short time, especially when deriving the transmissivity of rocks with low permeability.
Keywords
crystalline rock; underground research facility; in-situ hydraulic test; pulse test; slug test;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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