Transfer of an organo-chlorinated compound from a source area located in the unsaturated zone of a porous aquifer to the soil-air interface : experiments and modelling related

Two experiments were conducted on the experimental platform "SCERES" to assess the TCE vapour concentrations and fluxes in SCERES with two concrete slabs installed, one after the other, on the ground surface. This artificial aquifer is a large scale (25 x 12 x 3 m3) heterogeneous porous medium. The results showed that the TCE vapour plume covers most of the basin 3 weeks after the creation of the TCE source area in unsaturated zone. The heterogeneity of SCERES has generated a non uniform vertical distribution of the TCE vapour concentration. Simulation of vapour plume in SCERES was carried out by the multiphase code "SIMUSCOPP".The presence in SCERES of a low permeability and low diffusive medium compared to the sand in the basin,as a concrete slab, constituted a "barrier" for the transfer of TCE vapour to the interface concrete slab / atmosphere. To better quantify the TOE fluxes through the concrete slab, a study of diffusion coefficient and permeability of both concrete slabs was done. An upward vertical movement of the water table has generated a strong soil air pressure driving gradient, which led to a strong increase in the TCE vapour concentrations near the surface which has increased the vapour fluxes at the interface soil / atmosphere. Quantification of vapour fluxes at the interfaces soil / atmosphere and concrete slab / atmosphere was performed using a semi analytical approach based onFick's and Darcy's laws by taking into account both the effect of the driving pressure gradient and the effect of density vapour on the vapour transfer towards the soil surface.The intrusion of TCE vapours into the model building installed on the concrete slab was generated by creating a vacuum. The results showed that, during the TCE vapour suction from the model building, the concentration of TCE vapours under the concrete slab and in the building increases. Simulation of vapour intrusion into indoor air was done by the computational Multiphysics code "COMSOL", allowing simulation of the evolution of the vapour concentration obtained experimentally in the building. Il was shown that they depend directly on the spatial-temporal variation of the mass flux through the slab.

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Source https://theses.hal.science/tel-00853290
Author Marzougui Jaafar, Salsabil
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 10, 2026, 01:15 (UTC)
Created May 10, 2026, 01:15 (UTC)
Identifier NNT: 2013STRAH003
Language fr
Rights https://about.hal.science/hal-authorisation-v1/
contributor Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie de Strasbourg (LHyGeS) ; École Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement de Strasbourg (ENGEES)-Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
creator Marzougui Jaafar, Salsabil
date 2013-01-29T00:00:00
harvest_object_id f7885b4c-523b-4da9-9dd1-1d6563d3c186
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2026-03-31T00:00:00
set_spec type:THESE