Stochastic modeling of flow and conservative transport in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks

This study presents the stochastic Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) to assess the uncertainty of flow and conservative transport in 3-D discrete fracture networks (DFNs). The MCS modeling workflow involves a number of developed modules, including a DFN generator, a DFN mesh generator, and a finite eleme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHydrology and earth system sciences Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 19 - 34
Main Authors Lee, I-Hsien, Ni, Chuen-Fa, Lin, Fang-Pang, Lin, Chi-Ping, Ke, Chien-Chung
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 02.01.2019
Copernicus Publications
Subjects
Analysis
Computer simulation
Equilibrium flow
Finite element method
Fractures
Geophysical research
Hydraulic conductivity
Mathematical models
Mesh generation
Modelling
Monte Carlo methods
Monte Carlo simulation
Solutions
Statistical methods
Stochasticity
Three dimensional models
Transition zone
Transport
Variation
Velocity
Water cycle
Workflow
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Summary:This study presents the stochastic Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) to assess the uncertainty of flow and conservative transport in 3-D discrete fracture networks (DFNs). The MCS modeling workflow involves a number of developed modules, including a DFN generator, a DFN mesh generator, and a finite element model for solving steady-state flow and conservative transport in 3-D DFN realizations. The verification of the transport model relies on the comparison of transport solutions obtained from HYDROGEOCHEM model and an analytical model. Based on 500 DFN realizations in the MCS, the study assesses the effects of fracture intensities on the variation of equivalent hydraulic conductivity and the exhibited behaviors of concentration breakthrough curves (BTCs) in fractured networks. Results of the MCS show high variations in head and Darcy velocity near the specified head boundaries. There is no clear stationary region obtained for the head variance. However, the transition zones of nonstationarity for x-direction Darcy velocity is obvious, and the length of the transition zone is found to be close to the value of the mean fracture diameter for the DFN realizations. The MCS for DFN transport indicates that a small sampling volume in DFNs can lead to relatively high values of mean BTCs and BTC variations.
ISSN:1607-7938
1027-5606
1607-7938
DOI:10.5194/hess-23-19-2019