[en] In the Hesbaye region in Belgium, tracer tests performed in variably saturated fissured chalk rocks presented very contrasting results in terms of transit times, according to artificially controlled water recharge conditions prevailing during the experiments. Under intense recharge conditions, tracers migrated across the partially or fully saturated fissure network, at high velocity in accordance with the high hydraulic conductivity and low effective porosity (fracture porosity). At the same time, a portion of the tracer was temporarily retarded in the almost immobile water located in the matrix. Under natural infiltration conditions, the fissure network remained inactive. Tracers migrated downward through the matrix, at low velocity in relation with the low hydraulic conductivity and the large porosity of the matrix. Based on these observations, Brouyere et al. (2004a) [Brouyere, S., Dassargues, A., Hallet, V, 2004a. Migration of contaminants through the unsaturated zone overlying the Hesbaye chalky aquifer in Belgium: a field investigation, J. Contain. Hydrol., 72 (1-4), 135-164, doi: 10.1016/j.conhyd.2003.10. 009] proposed a conceptual model in order to explain the migration of solutes in variably saturated, dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk. Here, mathematical and numerical modelling of tracer and contaminant migration in variably saturated fissured chalk is presented, considering the aforementioned conceptual model. A new mathematical formulation is proposed to represent the unsaturated properties of the fissured chalk in a more dynamic and appropriate way. At the same time, the rock water content is partitioned between mobile and immobile water phases, as a function of the water saturation of the chalk rock. The groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the variably saturated chalk is solved using the control volume finite element method. Modelling the field tracer experiments performed in the variably saturated chalk shows the adequacy and usefulness of the new conceptual, mathematical and numerical model. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Brouyère, Serge ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Modelling the migration of contaminants through variably saturated dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk
Alternative titles :
[fr] Modélisation de la migration de polluants dans des craies variablement saturées à double porosité et double perméabilité
Publication date :
10 January 2006
Journal title :
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
ISSN :
0169-7722
Publisher :
Elsevier Science Bv, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Volume :
82
Issue :
3-4
Pages :
195-219
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
Etude phénoménologique de la propagation d'une susbtance miscible en milieu non saturé et application au transfert des nitrates vers la nappe aquifère de Hesbaye
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