Numerical modeling of multiphase flow through micro- and macro- pores of clay landfill caps using Lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.

This paper presents a rigorous numerical model that simulates the saturated and unsaturated flow through fine­-grained soils (clays) that contain micro-pores and macro-pores. Micro-pores are the pores where liquid can move vertically downwards as well as upwards due to capillary action and due to evaporative gradients. Macro-pores are large inter-clod voids, desiccation cracks, root penetrations, and other large size voids where water can only move downward due to gravity. Groundwater recharge from vadoze zone and solute or contaminant transport within vadoze zone and into the saturated aquifer is controlled by macro as well as micro pores. The model presented in this paper incorporates Brinkman's formulations into Lattice Boltzmann multiphase fluid flow model to simulate saturated and unsaturated flow through micro- and macro pores of clay landfill caps.