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Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of contaminant migration in the compacted clay containing artificial fractures

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Abstract

Many researchers have discussed contaminant migration in clay liners, but study of compacted clay with vertical fractures is rare. In this paper, an experimental model was developed to assess how a vertical fracture influences contaminant migration in a clay layer. Experimental results were compared with numerical simulation data. Dispersion parameters were calibrated according to measured and calculated concentrations from observation holes. Three factors, affecting the intact clay, different depths of landfill leachate, and fracture aperture, have been discussed using the calibrated parameters. Results show that contaminant migration in fractured clay is faster than in intact clay and the break-through time for the tracer was shorter than that in intact clay. The migration rate of the tracer in fractured clay first decreased and then increased with increasing landfill leachate depth. Furthermore, larger fracture apertures accelerated the rate of contaminant migration.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported financially by The National Basic Research Programme of China (973 Program, Grant no. 2012CB719804), The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos 51278172 and 51478167), and The Programme for Excellent Innovation and Talent in Hohai University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Lei Li, Yong Huang & Zhi Dou

  2. Jiangsu Province Hydrology and Water Resources Investigation Bureau, Nanjing, 210019, China

    Jing Chen

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  1. Lei Li
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  2. Jing Chen
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  3. Yong Huang
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  4. Zhi Dou
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Correspondence to Yong Huang.

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Li, L., Chen, J., Huang, Y. et al. Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of contaminant migration in the compacted clay containing artificial fractures. Environ Earth Sci 75, 134 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5027-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5027-x

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