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Effects of Some Common Geological Features on Two-Dimensional Variably Saturated Flow

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Abstract

This paper presents results of unsaturated flow simulations undertaken as an auxiliary analysis for the Iterative Performance Assessment (IPA) project, one of the approaches adopted’ by the U.S. NRC to develop repository license application review capabilities. The effects on flow of common geological features, such as nonhorizontal stratification and vertical or near-vertical fault zones intersecting the strata, in a two-dimensional (2D) domain are studied. Results indicate that the presence of layers and crosscutting fault zones tend to induce three-dimensional (3D) unstable flows in the unsaturated zone. The instability is manifested in our simulations by an oscillatory behavior of steady state. This numerical instability imposes extremely stringent criteria on the time step used in the simulation. Finally, once stable steady-state solutions are attained, the effect of the crossing point in the matrix-fault unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curve on groundwater flux vectors and moisture content distributions is studied.

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References

  1. Ababou, R. 1991. Approaches to Large Scale Unsaturated Flow in Heterogeneous, Stratified, and Fractured Geologic Media. NUREG/CR-5743. Washington, D.C: U.S. NRC.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was prepared to document work performed by the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under Contract No. NRC-02-88-005. The activities reported here were performed on behalf of the NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of High-Level Waste Management. This paper is an independent product of the CNWRA and does not necessarily reflect the views or regulatory position of the NRC. Comments and suggestions from three anonymous reviewers contributed to the final form of this paper.

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  1. Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses - Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX, 78228-0510, USA

    Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou, Rachid Ababou, Budhi Sagar & M. Rashidul Islam

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  1. Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou
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  2. Rachid Ababou
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  3. Budhi Sagar
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  4. M. Rashidul Islam
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Bagtzoglou, A.C., Ababou, R., Sagar, B. et al. Effects of Some Common Geological Features on Two-Dimensional Variably Saturated Flow. MRS Online Proceedings Library 294, 929–936 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-294-929

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-294-929

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