• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.27-39
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• 2007

This paper investigates numerically characteristics of the fluid flow in spatially correlated variable-aperture fractures under effective normal stress conditions. Spatially correlated aperture distributions are generated by using the geostaistical method (i.e. Turning Bands algorithm). In order to represent a nonlinear relationship between the effective normal stress and the fracture aperture, a simple mechanical formula is combined with a local flow model. Obtained numerical results indicate that the fluid flow is significantly affected by the geometry of aperture distribution varying according to the applied effective normal stress as well as the spatial correlation length of aperture distribution. Moreover, by using results simulated in this study, the modified Louis formula representing the relationship between the effective normal stress and the effective permeability of fracture is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.79-88
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• 2003

This paper presents a numerical study of the spatial behavior of a linear absorbing solute in a heterogeneous porous medium. The spatially correlated log-normal hydraulic conductivity field is generated in a given two-dimensional domain by using the geostatistical method (Turning Bands algorithm). The velocity vector field is calculated by applying the two-dimensional saturated groundwater flow equation to the Galerkin finite element method. The simulation of solute transport is carried out by using the random walk particle tracking model with CD(constant displacement) scheme in which the time interval is automatically adjusted. In this study, the spatial behavior of a solute is analyzed by the longitudinal center-of-mass displacement, longitudinal spatial spread moment and longitudinal plume skewness.