Flow Across an Unsaturated Fracture Intersection

Maria Ines Dragila, Noam Weisbrod

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    Abstract

    Fluid movement through fractured vadose zones is known to be complex, exhibiting spatial and temporal variability. It has been observed that under unsaturated conditions, not all fractures, even well-connected fractures, actively participate in transport at all times [Salve et al., 2002; Faybishenko et al., 2000] and that linear conduits formed by intersections can provide preferred
    paths for flow (e.g., Dahan et al., 2000). Consequently, simply knowing the geometric characteristics of a fracture or fracture system alone may be insufficient in predicting when a fracture will participate. A better understanding is needed of small-scale behavior of fluid as it reaches a discrete fracture intersection in order to develop more accurate rules for active-fracture
    selection. These “rules” are essential if we are to improve the reliability of modeling flow through fracture networks in the vadose zone.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the Second International Symposium on
    Subtitle of host publicationDynamics of Fluids in Fractured Rock
    EditorsBoris Faybishenko, Paul A. Witherspoon
    PublisherUniversity of California
    Pages27-33
    Number of pages9
    StatePublished - 2004

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