Assessing geotechnical centrifuge modelling in addressing variably saturated flow in soil and fractured rock

dc.contributor.authorJones, Brendon Ronald
dc.contributor.authorBrouwers, Luke Bernhard
dc.contributor.authorVan Tonder, Warren D.
dc.contributor.authorDippenaar, Matthys Alois
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-01T09:00:55Z
dc.date.issued2017-05
dc.description.abstractThe vadose zone typically comprises soil underlain by fractured rock. Often, surface water and groundwater parameters are readily available, but variably saturated flow through soil and rock are oversimplified or estimated as input for hydrological models. In this paper, a series of geotechnical centrifuge experiments are conducted to contribute to the knowledge gaps in: (i) variably saturated flow and dispersion in soil and (ii) variably saturated flow in discrete vertical and horizontal fractures. Findings from the research show that the hydraulic gradient, and not the hydraulic conductivity, is scaled for seepage flow in the geotechnical centrifuge. Furthermore, geotechnical centrifuge modelling has been proven as a viable experimental tool for the modelling of hydrodynamic dispersion as well as the replication of similar flow mechanisms for unsaturated fracture flow, as previously observed in literature. Despite the imminent challenges of modelling variable saturation in the vadose zone, the geotechnical centrifuge offers a powerful experimental tool to physically model and observe variably saturated flow. This can be used to give valuable insight into mechanisms associated with solid–fluid interaction problems under these conditions. Findings from future research can be used to validate current numerical modelling techniques and address the subsequent influence on aquifer recharge and vulnerability, contaminant transport, waste disposal, dam construction, slope stability and seepage into subsurface excavations.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentGeologyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2018-05-31
dc.description.librarianhb2017en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Water Research Commission of South Africaen_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://link.springer.com/journal/11356en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationJones, B.R., Brouwers, L.B., Van Tonder, W.D. & Dippenaar, M.A. Assessing geotechnical centrifuge modelling in addressing variably saturated flow in soil and fractured rock. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2017) 24: 13203-13223. doi:10.1007/s11356-016-8333-2.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0944-1344 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1614-7499 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s11356-016-8333-2
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/58776
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherSpringeren_ZA
dc.rights© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.com/journal/11356.en_ZA
dc.subjectUnsaturated flowen_ZA
dc.subjectFracture flowen_ZA
dc.subjectDispersionen_ZA
dc.subjectHydraulic conductivityen_ZA
dc.subjectFlow mechanismen_ZA
dc.subjectSmooth parallel plate modelen_ZA
dc.titleAssessing geotechnical centrifuge modelling in addressing variably saturated flow in soil and fractured rocken_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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