Abstract
We consider the behaviour of a gravity current in a porous medium when the horizontal surface along which it spreads is punctuated either by narrow fractures or by permeable regions of limited extent. We derive steady-state solutions for the current, and show that these form part of a long-time asymptotic description which may also include a self-similar ‘leakage current’ propagating beyond the fractured region with a length proportional to t1/2. We discuss the conditions under which a current can be completely trapped by a permeable region or a series of fractures.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 415-431 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Journal of Fluid Mechanics |
Volume | 584 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Keywords
- gravity
- substrates
- statistics
- steady-state solutions