Mass transport in an artificial heterogeneous aquifer: Experiments and numerical modelling

In order to generate a data base for the numerical study of dispersion processes in a well defined heterogeneous porous medium, a laboratory tank of 14 m in length, 0.5 m in height and 0.13 m in width has been constructed, which is composed of 81 different elements of exactly known geometry and hydraulic properties. In dispersion experiments using salt as tracer, breakthrough curves are observed at 80 points in 8 vertical sections. A comparison of three types of numerical models with the experimental data shows how well the models of various complexity describe the advection and dispersion processes and how in these cases the various dispersion parameters depend upon the models used.