Characterization of Rock Fractures for Fractal Modeling of Radon Gas Transport

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ajayi KM ; Ayo-Bali A
• Description:
  Enhancing the predictability of radon flux in fractured environments, particularly in confined spaces, is a crucial step towards mitigating the profound health risks associated with radon gas exposure. However, previous models on fluid transport through fractured rock have focused on the relationship between radon flux and aperture in fractures and faults. However, there is paucity of understanding on the influence of rock geo-mechanical properties on radon flux. In addition, there are limited methods of characterizing rocks in relation to radon flux. The numerical model presented in this study incorporated rock properties such as Young's modulus and Poisson ratio with rock aperture to develop a dimensionless radon flux for opening-mode fractures, and five dimensionless parameters (e.g., Geofluid number, Decay number, Fracgen number, Geofrac number, and Geopeclet number) were introduced to characterize fractures in terms of radon transport. Furthermore, these newly discovered relationships were used to conduct a series of flow simulations on fracture networks using the discrete fracture network model (DFN). This model establishes a quantitative framework for predicting radon flux through open-mode fractures and the influence of rock geo-mechanical properties. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Confined Spaces Occupational Health Radiation Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Radon Flux Confined Spaces DFN Dimensionless Parameters Discrete Fracture Network Model Fracturing Gas Flow Geo-mechanical Processes Geotechnical Engineering Opening-mode Fractures Radioactive Materials Radon Rock Mechanics

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0265-931X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  280
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070180
• Citation:
  J Environ Radioact 2024 Dec; 280:107543
• Contact Point Address:
  Abiodun Ayo-Bali, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, 200 SRCC, 4107 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
• Email:
  aea69@pitt.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Radon (CAS RN 10043-92-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:43e3b5e0da87a80087dcfd252c8b9892c2ead7b1dd5139b456c43b2457a6095fbfefb63d24337579618337ab4744503687f92d6959bbedeea99abcc1fd8f7eb0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215734/cdc_215734_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.43 MB ]