Skip to main content
Log in

Tracer transport test in simple fractured media

  • Published:
Geosciences Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Scientific visualization is an important method for understanding complex hydrologic processes. A series of experiments was conducted using two-dimensional fracture networks built of transparent plexiglass blocks as a new approach to process visualization. A digital monitoring method was used to visualize transport of a tracer in the fracture networks. The approach for visualizing tracer transport in fractured networks provided both quantitative and quantitative data. From the experiments conducted it was found that tracer spreading in fractured media was complex even in simple networks consisting of equally spaced finite fractures. The combined effects of fracture orientation and aperture variability resulted in the complex tracer spreading.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, F.W., 1998, Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 455 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gale, J., 1982, Assessing the permeability characteristics of fractured rocks. Special Publication, Geological Society of America, 189, 163–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., Schwartz, F.W., Smile, L. and Ibaraki, M., 2004, Complex dispersion in simple fractured media. Water Resources Research, 40, 1029–1039.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J., J.M. Kang, and J. Choc, 2003, Experimental analysis on the effects of variable apertures on tracer transport, Water Resources Research, 39(1), 1015, doi:10.1029/2001 WR001246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, S.A., Walker, D.D. and Arnold, B., 2003, Modeling dispersion in three-dimensional heterogeneous fractured media at Yucca Mountain. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 62–63, 577–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schincariol, R.A., Henderic, E. and Schwartz, F.W., 1993, On the application of image analysis to determine concentration distributions in laboratory experiments. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 12, 3, 197–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seol, Y., Schwartz, F. W. and Lee, S., 2001, Oxidation of bnary DNAPL mixtures using potassium permanganate with a phase transfer catalyst. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Spring, 124–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, F.W. and Smith, L., 1988, A continuum approach for modeling mass transport in fractured media. Water Resources Research, 24, 8, 1360–1372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, F.W., Smith, L. and Crowe, A.S., 1983, A stochastic analysis of macroscopic dispersion in fractured media. Water Resources Research, 19, 5, 1253–1265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. and Schwartz, F.W., 1980, Mass Transport. I. An analysis of the influence of fracture geometry on mass transport in fractured media. Water Resources Research, 20, 9, 303–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, G.W., Geller, J.T., Pruess, K. and Hunt, J., 2000, Overview of preferential flow in unsaturated fractures. Dynamics of Fluids in Fractured Rock, Geophysical Monograph, 122, The American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeongkon Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, J., Duguid, A. & Schwartz, F.W. Tracer transport test in simple fractured media. Geosci J 10, 131–136 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910357

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910357

Key words

Navigation