Author(s): Reinhard Hinkelmann; Tobias Busse; Pascale Rouault; Marko Nehrig
Linked Author(s): Reinhard Hinkelmann
Keywords: Two-phase flow in porous media; Seepage through dikes; Capillarity; Detection of fault zones
Abstract: In this paper, seepage processes through a dike with a fault zone are investigated. In the introduction, the importance of fault zones in dikes for their stability is pointed out. Different model concepts in order to simulate the coupled flow and deformation processes in inland and coastal dikes are briefly discussed. This contribution concentrates on the numerical simulation of water-gas flow processes in a dike. The corresponding model concept for two-phase flow in porous media is introduced as well as its implementation in the numerical simulator MUFTE-UG. . Then, numerical parameter studies on seepage processes through a homogeneous dike and a dike with a fault zone are compared. The results show the strong influence of capillarity and fault zones. Capillarity has a strong influence on the sharpness of the water front and a medium influence on the front speed. The fault zone has a very strong influence on the front speed as well as on the whole water spreading process. Such (twophase) flow processes cannot be simulated with a groundwater flow model. Further numerical and experimental studies are planned on a larger scale experiment and in the field to serve as a basis for comparing the ability of different non-invasive geophysical methods to detect fault zones.
Year: 2005