Abstract In this work, we study the transient behavior of homogenized models for solute transport
in two-region porous media. We focus on the following three models: (1) a time nonlocal, two-equation
model (2eq-nlt). This model does not rely on time constraints and, therefore, is particularly
useful in the short-time regime,...
This work focuses primarily the development of methods for imaging microbial biofilms in opaque porous media using x-ray computed microtomography (CT). Two methods for evaluating biofilms in porous media are presented. The first focuses on the addition of silver-coated, hollow glass microspheres to a biofilm-containing micro-model. The silver-coated microspheres affix...
In this work, we revisit the upscaling process of diffusive mass transfer of a solute undergoing a homogeneous reaction in porous media using the method of volume averaging. For linear reaction rate kinetics, the upscaled model exhibits a vis-à-vis correspondence with the mass transfer governing equation at the microscale. When...
In this work we examine the dispersion of conservative tracers (bromide and fluorescein) in an experimentally constructed three-dimensional dual-porosity porous medium, and in the absence of adjustable parameters. The medium is highly heterogeneous (σ2 Y = 5.7), and consists of spherical, low-hydraulic-conductivity inclusions embedded in a high-hydraulic-conductivity matrix. The bi-modal...
Billions of pounds of bisphenol A (BPA) are produced annually around the globe for the manufacture of numerous consumer products, including polycarbonate food and water containers, the protective resin linings of food cans, thermal printing paper, and dental fillings. BPA exposure during nervous system development has been associated with learning...
In this dissertation we consider two application specific flow and transport models in porous media at multiple scales: 1) methane gas transport models for hydrate formation and dissociation in the subsurface under two-phase conditions, and 2) coupled flow and biomass-nutrient model for biofilm growth in complex geometries with biofilm, and...
Cementitious materials are often characterized through the use of advanced analytical techniques to understand the macro-, micro-, and nano-scale properties, including phase formation during hydration, and subsequent potential deterioration mechanisms which can affect service life. A major limitation with using such analytical techniques to quantify solid phases in cementitious systems...
This work is a compilation of problems that deal with multiscale analysis of transport phenomena in environmental systems. A common feature among the problems studied here is the presence of non-negligible microscale structure in various forms. Each problem is approached from the perspective that a macroscopic observable encodes aspects of...