{"title":"Modelling flow and transport in fractured crystalline rocks by an upscaled equivalent continuous porous media method","authors":"Zhenze Li, Son Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.gete.2024.100625","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in sparsely fractured crystalline rocks is being considered by several countries. With a thorough delineation of the faults and fractures, it is feasible to develop a hydrogeological model for assessment of flow and transport in the fractures. For this purpose, we developed workflow and numerical models for fractured crystalline rocks by an upscaled equivalent continuous porous media (ECPM) approach. This method is independent of the influences from equivalent thickness of fracture, the meshing size, and the alignment between mesh and fracture. The methodology was first verified by modelling the flow and transport in a single fracture and compared with the analytical solutions. The ECPM model was then benchmarked with a series of test cases containing 4 connected deterministic fractures, with consistent comparison with the results of other modelling teams using different approaches. It was eventually implemented for the generic reference case that investigated the KBS-3V concept of waste disposal. We implemented a two-step multiscale modelling method to overcome the challenge of immense hardware demand resulted from simulating small scale engineered barrier systems (EBS) in a large-scale field model. Our modelling results for the generic reference case are comparable to those of peer international teams participating in the DECOVALEX2023 TaskF1. It also highlighted the significance of engineered barriers to containing radionuclide tracers in the repository.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56008,"journal":{"name":"Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 100625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352380824000923","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in sparsely fractured crystalline rocks is being considered by several countries. With a thorough delineation of the faults and fractures, it is feasible to develop a hydrogeological model for assessment of flow and transport in the fractures. For this purpose, we developed workflow and numerical models for fractured crystalline rocks by an upscaled equivalent continuous porous media (ECPM) approach. This method is independent of the influences from equivalent thickness of fracture, the meshing size, and the alignment between mesh and fracture. The methodology was first verified by modelling the flow and transport in a single fracture and compared with the analytical solutions. The ECPM model was then benchmarked with a series of test cases containing 4 connected deterministic fractures, with consistent comparison with the results of other modelling teams using different approaches. It was eventually implemented for the generic reference case that investigated the KBS-3V concept of waste disposal. We implemented a two-step multiscale modelling method to overcome the challenge of immense hardware demand resulted from simulating small scale engineered barrier systems (EBS) in a large-scale field model. Our modelling results for the generic reference case are comparable to those of peer international teams participating in the DECOVALEX2023 TaskF1. It also highlighted the significance of engineered barriers to containing radionuclide tracers in the repository.
期刊介绍:
The aim of the Journal is to publish research results of the highest quality and of lasting importance on the subject of geomechanics, with the focus on applications to geological energy production and storage, and the interaction of soils and rocks with the natural and engineered environment. Special attention is given to concepts and developments of new energy geotechnologies that comprise intrinsic mechanisms protecting the environment against a potential engineering induced damage, hence warranting sustainable usage of energy resources.
The scope of the journal is broad, including fundamental concepts in geomechanics and mechanics of porous media, the experiments and analysis of novel phenomena and applications. Of special interest are issues resulting from coupling of particular physics, chemistry and biology of external forcings, as well as of pore fluid/gas and minerals to the solid mechanics of the medium skeleton and pore fluid mechanics. The multi-scale and inter-scale interactions between the phenomena and the behavior representations are also of particular interest. Contributions to general theoretical approach to these issues, but of potential reference to geomechanics in its context of energy and the environment are also most welcome.