Experimental Apparatus to Study Groundwater Transport Using Dye Injection Visualization

摘要

An experimental modeling approach for groundwater and contaminant transport in both saturated and unsaturated soils is described. A dye injection visualization technique was used to measure the groundwater velocity vectors, map the path lines, and characterize the dispersion of contaminants in the groundwater. Data collected for this study were for a steady state condition of constant recharge and removal for a nearly isotropic and hdmogeneous soil. The soil was characterized in terms of particle size distribution and saturated flow permeability prior to the groundwater simulation. During the tests, dye was injected such that it formed a discrete marker in the soil. The marker was tracked over time. Path and time information were then used to determine flow velocities and path lines. Marker deformation was used to characterize the dispersion of passive contaminants to provide insight into the physical phenomena. It was found that the dye injection visualization technique used is an important addition to the usual pressure head measurements commonly collected and could lead to improved accuracy of groundwater and contaminant flow models.