Effect of linear sorption on solute transport in a coupled fracture-matrix system with sinusoidal fracture geometry

Abstract

Modeling of solute transport through fractured rock is an important component of in many disciplines especially groundwater contamination and nuclear waste disposal. Several studies have been conducted on single rock fracture using parallel plate model and recently solute and thermal transport has been numerically modeled in the sinusoidal fracture matrix coupled system. The effect of linear sorption has been studied on the same. Results suggest the high matrix porosity and matrix diffusion coefficient enhance the sorption process and reduce the matrix diffusion of solutes. The velocity of the fluid reduces with increment in fracture aperture.

Keywords

• Sinusoidal fracture
• Finite difference
• Matrix diffusion
• Linear sorption