Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2023.105534
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Non-isothermal consolidation: A systematic evaluation of two implementations based on multiphase and Richards equations
Author Pitz, M.; Kaiser, S.; Grunwald, N.; Kumar, V.; Buchwald, J. ORCID logo ; Wang, W. ORCID logo ; Naumov, D.; Chaudhry, A.A.; Maßmann, J.; Thiedau, J.; Kolditz, O. ORCID logo ; Nagel, T.
Source Titel International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
Year 2023
Department ENVINF
Volume 170
Page From art. 105534
Language englisch
Topic T8 Georesources
Keywords Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes; Non-isothermal two-component two-phase flow; Non-isothermal Richards equation; OpenGeoSys; DECOVALEX 2023; Nuclear waste disposal
Abstract In this paper, the governing equations of non-isothermal two-phase flow in unsaturated, deformable porous media are presented based on different representations of the gaseous phase along with their implementations in the open-source FEM code OpenGeoSys 6. As one implementation utilises the Richards equation to represent the unsaturated system whereas the second implementation relies on a two-component two-phase flow formulation, the impact of a free gaseous phase on model predictions is illustrated by a series of tests of increasing complexity, motivated by similar investigations in Task C of the DECOVALEX 2023 project. We demonstrate that the governing equations of both implementations collapse and become identical in fully saturated regions and that the numerical implementations remain stable in the special cases. Furthermore, the implicit assumptions made in the Richards equation are explicitly applied to the physically more complex and comprehensive TH2M model. Thus, the impact of a constant residual gas pressure on the model predictions is investigated. Finally, the examples chosen for this work feature thermal consolidation and pore fluid pressurisation effects in the Opalinus Clay due to heat release from a nuclear waste canister as well as dry-out with subsequent resaturation of a bentonite buffer around the heat source. All test cases are evaluated on the level of the governing equations of each model as well as on the level of results obtained by each model for a discussion of conceptual model uncertainty.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=27627
Pitz, M., Kaiser, S., Grunwald, N., Kumar, V., Buchwald, J., Wang, W., Naumov, D., Chaudhry, A.A., Maßmann, J., Thiedau, J., Kolditz, O., Nagel, T. (2023):
Non-isothermal consolidation: A systematic evaluation of two implementations based on multiphase and Richards equations
Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 170 , art. 105534 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2023.105534