Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) mass transport numerical model is presented. The code is based on a particle tracking technique: the random-walk method, which is based on the analogy between the advection-dispersion equation and the Fokker-Planck equation. The velocity field is calculated by the mixed hybrid finite element formulation of the flow equation. A new efficient method is developed to handle the dissimilarity between Fokker-Planck equation and advection-dispersion equation to avoid accumulation of particles in low dispersive regions. A comparison made on a layered aquifer example, between this method and other algorithms commonly used, shows the efficiency of the new method. The code is validated by a simulation of a 3D tracer transport experiment performed on a laboratory model. It represents a heterogeneous aquifer of about 6-m length, 1-m width, and 1-m depth. The porous medium is made of three, different sorts of sand. Sodium chloride, is used as a tracer. Comparisons between simulated and measured values, with and without the presented method, also proves the accuracy of the new algorithm.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 435-456 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Mathematical Geology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Advection-dispersion equation
- Laboratory model
- Mass transport modeling
- Random-walk method
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mathematics (miscellaneous)
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)