Spatial dependence of the hydraulic conductivity in a well‐type configuration at the mesoscale

Fallico, Carmine; Ianchello, Mario; Bartolo, Samuele De; Severino, Gerardo

doi:10.1002/hyp.11422

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Specifically, the present study investigated the influence that the variation of the parameters characterizing the porous medium structure exerts on the scaling behavior of the hydraulic conductivity taken as a parameter representative of the hydrogeological aspects considered within the aquifer. For the K measurement, it was preferred to carry out slug tests, rather than pumping tests, as in previous studies [25], for greater simplicity. In fact, with the experimental laboratory device considered here, to maintain constant pumping with very small flow rates, a necessary condition for ensuring compliance with the boundary conditions of the data analysis method under consideration is very difficult.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to ensure the confined formation, a thin impermeable plastic panel was laid down over each configuration and then covered with additional sandy material. The impermeability of the confined formation was verified by means of some preliminary tests [25]. In order to guarantee a constant hydraulic head condition during the tests, a perimetric chamber was built along the metal box lateral boundaries, and the perimetric chamber was connected with two external loading reservoirs.…”

Section: Experimental Set-up Equipment and Tests Executionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This implies that the scaling parameter considered is representative of a scale-invariant phenomenon [36]. These cut-off limits can be determined identifying, within the investigation context, the range showing the maximum value of the determination coefficient (R 2 ), as treated in numerous studies in the literature [9,25,36]. In the following, the scale invariance of the phenomenon and the condition of lacunarity were assumed, and on this basis, the scaling behaviors of K and n e were verified using Equation (7).…”

Section: Scaling Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this way, it is possible to identify the modalities of the hydraulic conductivity variation when the porosity changes and the corresponding scaling law constitutes a valid alternative to the numerous empirical and semi-empirical formulas based on the grain size distribution [19][20][21][22][23]. The importance of determining a scaling law for a given parameter is also due to the fact that this allows identification of the distribution of the considered parameter in the spatial context taken into consideration, avoiding the use of traditional geostatistical methods [24,25]. However, in the experimental verification of the scaling behavior of the hydraulic conductivity, it is necessary to verify that the significant values of this parameter were obtained in contexts and in conditions to guarantee a correct comparison, namely under identical flow conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Porous Medium Typology Influence on the Scaling Laws of Confined Aquifer Characteristic Parameters

Fallico

Lauria

Aristodemo

2020

Water

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An accurate measurement campaign, carried out on a confined porous aquifer, expressly reproduced in laboratory, allowed the determining of hydraulic conductivity values by performing a series of slug tests. This was done for four porous medium configurations with different granulometric compositions. At the scale considered, intermediate between those of the laboratory and the field, the scalar behaviors of the hydraulic conductivity and the effective porosity was verified, determining the respective scaling laws. Moreover, assuming the effective porosity as scale parameter, the scaling laws of the hydraulic conductivity were determined for the different injection volumes of the slug test, determining a new relationship, valid for coarse-grained porous media. The results obtained allow the influence that the differences among the characteristics of the porous media considered exerted on the scaling laws obtained to be highlighted. Finally, a comparison was made with the results obtained in a previous investigation carried out at the field scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Set-up Equipment and Tests Executionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Scaling Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Porous Medium Typology Influence on the Scaling Laws of Confined Aquifer Characteristic Parameters

Fallico

Lauria

Aristodemo

2020

Water

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“…However, the study of the intermediate scale between laboratory and field, characterized by dimensions ranging from a few tens of centimeters to a few meters, is becoming increasingly important. In fact, at this scale it is easier to study particular local phenomena, which often influence the flow and mass transport at larger scales with not negligible uncertainty (Comegna et al 2010;Severino et al 2010Fallico et al 2018). At this intermediate scale, the structural characteristics of the porous medium assume substantial importance, determining the heterogeneity that underlies the scaling behavior in question, namely porosity and tortuosity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of fractal models to define the scaling behavior of the aquifers’ parameters at the mesoscale

Fallico

Bartolo

Brunetti

et al. 2020

Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess

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We present an experimental study aiming at the identification of the hydraulic conductivity in an aquifer which was packed according to four different configurations. The conductivity was estimated by means of slug tests, whereas the other parameters were determined by the grain size analysis. Prior to the fractal we considered the dependence of the conductivity upon the porosity through a power (scaling) law which was found in a very good agreement within the range from the laboratory to the meso-scale. The dependence of the conductivity through the porosity was investigated by identifying the proper fractal model. Results obtained provide valuable indications about the behavior, among the others, of the tortuosity, a parameter playing a crucial role in the dispersion phenomena taking place in the aquifers.

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Unraveling the complexities of a highly heterogeneous aquifer under convergent radial flow conditions

Brunetti,

Maiolo,

Fallico

et al. 2024

Engineering with Computers

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Untangling flow and mass transport in aquifers is essential for effective water management and protection. However, understanding the mechanisms underlying such phenomena is challenging, particularly in highly heterogeneous natural aquifers. Past research has been limited by the lack of dense data series and experimental models that provide precise knowledge of such aquifer characteristics. To bridge this gap and advance our current understanding, we present the findings of a pioneering experimental investigation that characterizes a unique, strongly heterogeneous, laboratory-constructed phreatic aquifer at an intermediate scale under radial flow conditions. This strong heterogeneity was achieved by randomly distributing 2527 cells across 7 layers, each filled with one of 12 different soil mixtures, with their textural characteristics, porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity measured in the laboratory. We placed 37 fully penetrating piezometers radially at varying distances from the central pumping well, allowing for an extensive pumping test campaign to obtain saturated hydraulic conductivity values for each piezometer location and scaling laws along eight directions. Results reveal that the aquifer’s strong heterogeneity led to significant vertical and directional anisotropy in saturated hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrated for the first time that the porous medium tends toward homogeneity when transitioning from the scale of heterogeneity to the scale of investigation. These novel findings, obtained on a uniquely highly heterogeneous aquifer, contribute to the field and provide valuable insights for researchers studying flow and mass transport phenomena. The comprehensive dataset obtained will serve as a foundation for future research and as a tool to validate findings from previous studies on strongly heterogeneous aquifers.

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Spatial dependence of the hydraulic conductivity in a well‐type configuration at the mesoscale

Cited by 13 publications

References 28 publications

Porous Medium Typology Influence on the Scaling Laws of Confined Aquifer Characteristic Parameters

Porous Medium Typology Influence on the Scaling Laws of Confined Aquifer Characteristic Parameters

Use of fractal models to define the scaling behavior of the aquifers’ parameters at the mesoscale

Unraveling the complexities of a highly heterogeneous aquifer under convergent radial flow conditions

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