Anisotropic permeability characteristics of Indiana Limestone: Experimental and computational studies

This thesis presents the development of an experimental methodology to determine the fluid transport characteristics of geomaterials whether they are homogenous or inhomogeneous and directionally dependent. The experimental concepts, set up and procedures for different configurations of permeability testing are discussed. In this research, a steady state technique is deployed to evaluate the permeability characteristics of Indiana Limestone, which can exhibit hydraulic properties that are non-isotropic and an associated solution to analyze experimental data in steady state permeability test conditions is established. The developments presume that one of the principal directions of hydraulic conductivity coincides with the axis of the cylindrical specimen that is being tested.;The experimental procedure involved testing cylindrical samples of the Indiana Limestone of 100 mm diameter and about 60 mm height subjected to steady state flow configurations in the axial and radial directions. The results of certain preliminary tests show that the intrinsic permeability of Indiana Limestone is in the order of 10-15 m2 and exhibits some extent of anisotropy: the ratios of the permeability in the vertical direction and bedding direction Kz/K r range from 1.8 to 2.6.