Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

Solute transport through fractured media is considered in order to study the sensitivity of fracture parameters. A numerical model is utilized for analyzing the effect of the solute diffusion coefficient in the matrix, fracture aperture size and matrix porosity, respectively. The effect of large matrix diffusion coefficients in the matrix is to reduce significantly the solute velocity in the fracture and to increase the solute encroachment to the matrix. The reduction in the aperture size reduces the amount of solute transported in the fracture, and a greater proportion of the solute enters the matrix pores. As the matrix porosity becomes smaller, the solute velocity in the fracture and matrix increases.