HR: 1330h
AN: H22A-0907    [PDF]
TI: Fundamental equations for fluid flow in a geocentrifuge
AU: * Palmer, C D
EM: palmcd@inel.gov
AF: Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2107 United States
AU: Crepeau, J
EM: crepeau@uidaho.edu
AF: University of Idaho at Idaho Falls, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 United States
AU: Smith, R W
EM: smithbob@uidaho.edu
AF: University of Idaho at Idaho Falls, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 United States
AB: There is a growing interest in the application of geocentrifuge techniques to the investigation of flow and transport in variably saturated media. This interest arises largely from the increased driving force for unsaturated flow using the geocentrifuge and the potential for completing relevant vadose zone experiments in less time than when using conventional 1-gravity techniques. Thus, the geocentrifuge technique allows investigation of material unsuitable (e.g. extremely low hydraulic conductivity) for conventional 1-gravity approaches. However, to fully realize the potential of geocentrifuge experimental approaches, the similarity and differences of fluid flow in a variable centrifugal field to a constant 1-gravity field must be understood. We have derived an expression of fluid potential that suggests that the conventional Darcy equation is not strictly valid in a centrifugal field. We have also conducted detailed analyses of the Navier-Stokes equations as applied to porous media flows within a geocentrifuge. These analyses show the relative effects that a variable gravity field, represented by the centrifugal force and the coriolis force, have on the flow fields. Nondimensionalization of the governing equations shows the role that the Ekman and Rossby numbers play in these porous media flows. This analysis provides information useful for the scaling of variable gravity geocentrifuge experiments and helps to define the theoretical limits under which geocentrifuge experiments exhibit similarity to field phenomena.
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1832 Groundwater transport
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
DE: 1875 Unsaturated zone
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting