Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil Engineering

Karst aquifers are characterized by the dual porosity represented in their two main domains; matrix and conduits.This research presents a large-scale laboratory model to simulate a karst aquifer with pumping wells. Pressure and discharge measurements are obtained to provide pressure head distribution, quantification of matrix-conduit exchange, and drawdown values. Results show that the matrix-conduit exchange is dependent on conduit hydraulic gradient, conduit size, and the head difference between matrix and conduit domains. Results also show that for the same pumping rate, drawdown values of matrix wells are substantially higher than that of conduit wells. Conduits can sustain much higher pumping rates than the matrix domain.Matrix-conduit exchange under pumping conditions varies according to the domain that is being pumped and the head difference between the matrix and conduit domains

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