689 Special Topics: Transport Phenomena in Porous Media Class Syllabus and Rules Catalog Description Transport phenomena in porous media with special emphasis on fundamentals and applications to various geo-environmental problems. Overview Lectures: Instructor: Office hours: Main references: In the last few years geo-engineering has expanded its domain of intervention, particularly in the field of geo-environmental engineering and geo-technology applied to assist present and future energy challenges (i.e. from energy production, to waste management and carbon sequestration). This has led to study the behavior of soils and rocks under extreme and complex conditions involving simultaneous hydraulic (both: liquid and gas), thermal, mechanical and geochemical actions. This course focuses on the study of the main physical phenomena and processes that control the behavior of porous media. The equations are presented for the general case of non-isothermal multiphase flow and transport problems in deformable porous media. The course also contemplates a brief introduction to the numerical approximation of the mathematical formulation. Problems of practical interest in the broad field geo-engineering and geo-mechanics are analyzed during the course. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:10 am to 10:00 am in RICH 1009 Dr. Marcelo Sanchez Office: 808Q CE/TTI Building Zachry Department of Civil Engineering Texas A&M University 3136 TAMU College Station, TX 77845 phone: (979) 862-6604 email: msanchez@civil.tamu.edu Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (808Q CE/TTI Building), or by appointment. You can also make your appointment by e-leaning e-mail. Skype meetings can be organized for DL (Distant Learning) students. Previous request via email is necessary to arrange the Skype meeting. Handouts and Course Notes. They will be available through e-learning Journal Papers. Huyakorn, B. & Pinder. G. (1983). Computational methods in subsurface flow. Academic Press Inc. Bear, J. (1972). Dynamics of fluids in porous media. Dover Edit. Mark D. Zoback (2007) Reservoir Geomechanics. Cambridge University Press Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University 1/4
Mao Bai and Derek Elsworth (2000). Coupled Processes in Subsurface Deformation, Flow, and Transport. ASCE Press Herbert Wang (2000) Theory of linear poroelasticity: with applications to geomechanics and hydrogeology. Rowe K., Quigley R. and Booker J. (1997). Clay barrier system for waste disposal facilities. E&FN Spon. Class communications Course Objectives: Web Page: Homework: Topics Class communications, notes, grades reports, only via e-learning at http://elearning.tamu.edu/ After this course it is expected that the students can be able to: a) Understand the fundamentals associated with the multiphase flow and transport of heat and mass in deformable porous media. b) Recognize the main Thermo-Hydraulic-Mechanical and Geochemical (THMG) phenomena (and their mutual interactions) when coupled THMG actions take place in porous media. c) Understand the mathematical framework typically used to deal with flow and transport phenomena in deformable porous media. d) Become familiar with the typical numerical solutions for coupled THMG in porous media e) Apply their knowledge in THMG behavior of porous media to create solutions to geo-engineering/geo/mechanical problems. The course is administered through e-learning (http://elearning.tamu.edu). All reading and homework assignments, notices, additional materials and handouts will be posted on elearning ONLY. Due dates and times will be posted on e-learning. It is your responsibility to check e-learning frequently, comply with instructions posted there and access course materials. Homework is assigned on a regular basis and generally will be due a week later. Late work will be penalized 50%. Two weeks grace period will be granted to submit the assignment; otherwise zero credit will be given. Clarity and accuracy of the solutions are required. In the case of missing a lecture, it is the student s responsibility to follow the course contents through the instructor s notes posted on e-learning, and to submit on time the corresponding assignments. Hard copies of the assignments can be handed or submitted via e-learning (in a single pdf file) according to the instructions in the assignments. A tentative list of the main subjects intended in this course is presented below. Some of the topics (or subtopics) indicated as follows might be replaced by alternative additional courses if a majority of students expresses a need for more explanations, or if a class is unexpectedly cancelled during the semester. Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University 2/4
1. Introduction and basic concepts 1.1 Notation. Approximation of the porous medium as a continuum. Representative elementary volume. Porosity and effective porosity. Particle-size/pore-size distribution. Other statistical descriptions. 1.2 Properties of the liquid water. Density, compressibility, viscosity and surface tension. 1.3 Properties of the water vapor and gaseous phase (wet air). Density, compressibility and viscosity. Dissolved air and Henry law. 1.4 Influence of temperature, pressure and solutes on water and gas properties. Influence of capillary tension and suction on vapor concentration. Physcrometric law. Effect of solutes. Matric, osmotic and total suctions. 1.5 Vapor pressure. Internal energy. Water phase diagram. 2. Single-phase flow in non deformable porous media 2.1 Saturated media. Hydraulic conductivity. Liquid and gas single-phase flow. Intrinsic permeability. Advective flow. Darcy s law. Upper and lower limit of Darcy s law. 2.2 Mass balance equation. Hydraulic transmissibility. Storage coefficient. Anisotropic permeability. Flow in fractured porous media. Double porosity flow models. 2.3 Laboratory and in-situ tests. Numerical approximation. Applications. 3. Multiphase flow in non deformable porous media 3.1 Degree of saturation. Water retention behavior. Capillarity rise in soils. Retention curve. Influence of temperature and solutes on fluid retention behavior. 3.2 Darcy s law for two-phase media (e,g, water-air, gas-oil) media. Relative permeability. Piezometric level. Flow equations for multiphase porous media. Richards s equation. 3.4 Short introudction to laboratory and in-situ tests. 4. Mass transport in non deformable porous media 4.1 Solute (conservative) transport in single phase flow. Advection. Fick s law. Dispersion: hydro-mechanical dispersion; molecular diffusion. Tortuosity 4.2 Adsorption. Transport of radioactive nuclides (radioactive decay). 4.3 Solute transport in multiphase flow. Introduction to reactive transport. 4.4 Laboratory and in-situ testing.. 5. Energy transport in non deformable porous media 5.1 Conductive heat flux. Fourier s law. Thermal conductivity. Advective heat transport. Phase change. Internal Energy. Energy balance equation. 5.3 Issues related to advective-dispersive terms in transport equations. Characteristic times. Peclet and Rayleigh numbers. 5.4 Short introudction to laboratory and in-situ testing. 6. Deformable porous media 6.1 Stresses and strains. Momentum balance equation. Porosity changes. 6.2 Elastic and Elastoplastic models for soils and rocks 6.3 Deformation in saturated porous media. Effective stress. Consolidation. Biot s theory for 3-D consolidation. Thermal effects on mechanical behavior of soils & rocks. 6.4 Deformation in unsaturated (multiphase) porous media. Effect of net stresses and capillary pressure on deformation. Behavior of swelling clays and shales. Mechanical behavior of fractures. 6.5 Short introudction to laboratory and in-situ testing Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University 3/4
7. Coupled processes and phenomena in deformable porous media 7.1 Main Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical and Geo-chemical (THMG) couplings in porous media. 7.2 General mathematical formulation to analyze THMG coupled problems in deformable multiphase porous media. 7.3 Onsager s phenomena: direct flow phenomena, and coupled processes. 7.4 Numerical approximation. 8. Applications related to coupled problems in porous media 8.1 Waste containment system. Clay barriers. Drainage materials. 8.2 Vertical barriers. Liner system for landfills. Covers and closures. Multiple barriers concept. Underground storage. 8.3 Reservoir simulation, borehole stability. Hydrate bearing sediments. Fluid (C0 2 and H0 2) injection in porous media. C0 2 sequestration Laboratory None Tentative Scheduled Midterm Exam: Final Exam: Weeks Subject 1 Introduction and basic concepts 2 Single-phase flow in non deformable porous media 3 & 4 Multiphase flow in non deformable porous media 5 & 6 Mass transport in non deformable porous media 7 & 8 Energy transport in non deformable porous media 9 & 10 Deformable porous media 11 &12 Coupled processes and phenomena in deformable porous media 12 & 13 Applications 14 Other applications /Final Exam Closed book exam. For local students the exam location is: RICH 1009. Date: to be confirmed. Exam time: 90. For DL students the exam will be made available via e-learning. Exam time: 120 (30 minutes more than for locals to allow the preparation of the pdf file and submission). Closed book exam. Location: RICH 1009. December 12, Monday. 3:30-5:30 p.m. For DL students the exam will be made available via e-learning. Exam time: 150 (30 minutes more than for locals to allow the preparation of the pdf file and submission). Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University 4/4
Course grading: The final grade will be assigned based on this distribution: Midterm exam 25% Final exam 25% Project 35% Homework 10% Quizzes/lecture time activities 5% Grading policy A: above 90%, B: 80 to 90%, C: 70 to 80%, D: 70 to 60%, F: below 60%. Students must not request partial credit after obtaining results from assignments, reports, and exams. No make-up exams will be granted. Other Pertinent Course Information Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu Academic Integrity For additional information please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do. Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University 5/4