Application of fracture network model with crack permeability tensor on flow and transport in fractured rock

Very efficient and practical models that use a crack tensor in terms of fracture geometry parameters for field rock mass are proposed. A framework of the crack tensor approach combined with the identifying fracture-controlled characteristics was successively used in a hypothetical hydro-geological field for determining the dynamics of flow and transport of nuclides in fractured rock.The modeling results and site-specific data of Lan-Yu Island in Taiwan reveal the characteristics associated with the geometry of fracture networks under the prescribed boundaries. The simulated fracture networks were transformed into a grid-based simulation procedure under consideration of the delaying effect in matrix owing to particle migration. Synthetic flow results indicate that the flowing vector is very sensitive to fracture intensity (P32); high fracture intensity leads to high velocity. Heterogeneity generated by fractures' field will result in the shortest and the longest transmission distance of 12-fold difference. While taking into consideration of the ingrowth-decay transport, the plumes of the daughter product were relatively tortuous and anomalous to predict.

Research Highlights
► High fracture intensity leads to a high velocity.
► Heterogeneity generated by fractures' field will result in the shortest and the longest transmission distance of 12‐fold difference.