Groundwater flow through fractured rocks was recognized as an important problem connected to several scientific and engineering geological fields, including hydrogeology, rock mechanics, geotechnical engineering. Fluid flow in rock masses plays an important role in many geological hazards such as environmental risk. Fractured media are very heterogeneous and the hydraulic and geomechanical properties are strongly dependent on the rock mass spatially varying geometrical parameters. This makes the study of groundwater flow a considerable challenge for modeling purposes in the frame of environmental pollution, especially considering that fractures may act as preferential drainage paths, thus accelerating the transport process. This study aims at shedding light, through a numerical simulation, on the influence played by major fractures on the groundwater circulation in a carbonate aquifer. The numerical model was built in a Q-GIS environment through the FREEWAT plug-in, by considering different scenarios that model the interaction between pumping activity and fracture field.
Analyzing the mechanisms of water circulation in fractured aquifers as a tool for preventing environmental pollution risk
Bongiovanni M.
Primo
;Mineo S.;Messina A.;Pappalardo G.Ultimo
2024-01-01
Abstract
Groundwater flow through fractured rocks was recognized as an important problem connected to several scientific and engineering geological fields, including hydrogeology, rock mechanics, geotechnical engineering. Fluid flow in rock masses plays an important role in many geological hazards such as environmental risk. Fractured media are very heterogeneous and the hydraulic and geomechanical properties are strongly dependent on the rock mass spatially varying geometrical parameters. This makes the study of groundwater flow a considerable challenge for modeling purposes in the frame of environmental pollution, especially considering that fractures may act as preferential drainage paths, thus accelerating the transport process. This study aims at shedding light, through a numerical simulation, on the influence played by major fractures on the groundwater circulation in a carbonate aquifer. The numerical model was built in a Q-GIS environment through the FREEWAT plug-in, by considering different scenarios that model the interaction between pumping activity and fracture field.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.