Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses

It is essential to study nuclide transport with underground water in fractured rock masses in order to evaluate potential radionuclide leakage in nuclear waste disposal. A time-domain random-walk (TDRW) method was firstly implemented into a discrete element method (DEM), that is, UDEC, in this paper...

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Main Authors: Yuexiu Wu, Quansheng Liu, Andrew H. C. Chan, Hongyuan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5940380
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author Yuexiu Wu
Quansheng Liu
Andrew H. C. Chan
Hongyuan Liu
author_facet Yuexiu Wu
Quansheng Liu
Andrew H. C. Chan
Hongyuan Liu
author_sort Yuexiu Wu
collection DOAJ
description It is essential to study nuclide transport with underground water in fractured rock masses in order to evaluate potential radionuclide leakage in nuclear waste disposal. A time-domain random-walk (TDRW) method was firstly implemented into a discrete element method (DEM), that is, UDEC, in this paper to address the pressing challenges of modelling the nuclide transport in fractured rock masses such as massive fractures and coupled hydromechanical effect. The implementation was then validated against analytical solutions for nuclide transport in a single fracture and a simple fracture network. After that, the proposed implementation was applied to model the nuclide transport in a complex fracture network investigated in the DECOVALEX 2011 project to analyze the effect of matrix diffusion and stress on the nuclide transport in the fractured rock masses. It was concluded that the implementation of the TDRW method into UDEC provided a valuable tool to study the nuclide transport in the fractured rock masses. Moreover, it was found that the total travel time of the nuclide particles in the fractured rock masses with the matrix diffusion and external stress modelled was much longer than that without the matrix diffusion and external stress modelled.
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spelling doaj-art-8de15110f06f4d358a72b47aacd850302025-02-03T01:31:35ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232017-01-01201710.1155/2017/59403805940380Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock MassesYuexiu Wu0Quansheng Liu1Andrew H. C. Chan2Hongyuan Liu3Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, ChinaKey Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, ChinaSchool of Engineering and ICT, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and ICT, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, AustraliaIt is essential to study nuclide transport with underground water in fractured rock masses in order to evaluate potential radionuclide leakage in nuclear waste disposal. A time-domain random-walk (TDRW) method was firstly implemented into a discrete element method (DEM), that is, UDEC, in this paper to address the pressing challenges of modelling the nuclide transport in fractured rock masses such as massive fractures and coupled hydromechanical effect. The implementation was then validated against analytical solutions for nuclide transport in a single fracture and a simple fracture network. After that, the proposed implementation was applied to model the nuclide transport in a complex fracture network investigated in the DECOVALEX 2011 project to analyze the effect of matrix diffusion and stress on the nuclide transport in the fractured rock masses. It was concluded that the implementation of the TDRW method into UDEC provided a valuable tool to study the nuclide transport in the fractured rock masses. Moreover, it was found that the total travel time of the nuclide particles in the fractured rock masses with the matrix diffusion and external stress modelled was much longer than that without the matrix diffusion and external stress modelled.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5940380
spellingShingle Yuexiu Wu
Quansheng Liu
Andrew H. C. Chan
Hongyuan Liu
Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
Geofluids
title Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
title_full Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
title_fullStr Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
title_full_unstemmed Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
title_short Implementation of a Time-Domain Random-Walk Method into a Discrete Element Method to Simulate Nuclide Transport in Fractured Rock Masses
title_sort implementation of a time domain random walk method into a discrete element method to simulate nuclide transport in fractured rock masses
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5940380
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