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Effects of Some Common Geological Features on Two-Dimensional Variably Saturated Flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1992

Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou ,
Rachid Ababou ,
Budhi Sagar  and
M. Rashidul Islam
Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses - Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road - San Antonio, TX 78228-0510, U.S.A.
Rachid Ababou
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses - Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road - San Antonio, TX 78228-0510, U.S.A.
Budhi Sagar
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses - Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road - San Antonio, TX 78228-0510, U.S.A.
M. Rashidul Islam
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses - Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road - San Antonio, TX 78228-0510, U.S.A.
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Abstract

This paper presents results of unsaturated flow simulations undertaken as an auxiliary analysis for the Iterative Performance Assessment (IPA) project, one of the approaches adopted' by the U.S. NRC to develop repository license application review capabilities. The effects on flow of common geological features, such as nonhorizontal stratification and vertical or near-vertical fault zones intersecting the strata, in a two-dimensional (2D) domain are studied. Results indicate that the presence of layers and crosscutting fault zones tend to induce three-dimensional (3D) unstable flows in the unsaturated zone. The instability is manifested in our simulations by an oscillatory behavior of steady state. This numerical instability imposes extremely stringent criteria on the time step used in the simulation. Finally, once stable steady-state solutions are attained, the effect of the crossing point in the matrix-fault unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curve on groundwater flux vectors and moisture content distributions is studied.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 294: Symposium V – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVI , 1992 , 929
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

REFERENCES

1. Ababou, R. 1991. Approaches to Large Scale Unsaturated Flow in Heterogeneous, Stratified, and Fractured Geologic Media. NUREG/CR-5743. Washington, D.C.: U.S. NRC,.Google Scholar
2. Bagtzoglou, A.C., Ababou, R., and Nedungadi, A., 1992, BIGFLOW: A Multi-Dimensional Code for Flow in Heterogeneous and Variably Saturated Geologic Media (Theory and User's Manual - Version 1.0), CNWRA 92–026, San Antonio, Texas: Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, Southwest Research Institute, pp. 140.Google Scholar
3. Scott, R.B., and Bonk, J., 1984. Preliminary Geologic Map of Yucca Mountain with Geologic Sections, Nye County, Nevada. U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84–494.Google Scholar