Reactive contaminant transport simulation using the analytic element method, random walk particle tracking and kernel density estimator

Abstract

In this study, we propose a simulation model to solve the two-dimensional groundwater flow and advection-dispersion-reaction equation (ADRE) by coupling analytic element method (AEM), random walk particle tracking (RWPT) and kernel density estimator (KDE). In the AEM-RWPT-KDE model, AEM solves the groundwater flow equation, RWPT solves the advection-dispersion-reaction equation and KDE enhances the accuracy and computational efficiency of RWPT. AEM generates a continuous velocity distribution which is suitable for RWPT. An analytic expression is modified to simulate radioactive decay for discrete transport time steps and is embedded in the RWPT model. Linear adsorption is also incorporated in the RWPT model by tracking particles with a retarded velocity. Unlike Eulerian transport models such as finite element or finite difference methods, RWPT is completely free from numerical dispersion. The comparison of results illustrates the superiority of the RWPT model over accurate Eulerian-Lagrangian models with reference to the analytical solution. Further, the AEM-RWPT-KDE model is used to simulate the transport processes of Radium-228 and Trichloroethene (TCE) in two hypothetical aquifer cases. Both case studies reflect the practical applicability of the proposed methodology.