openKARST: A novel open-source flow simulator for karst systems

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Kordilla, Jannes, Dentz, Marco, Hidalgo, Juan J.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866915585742340096
author Kordilla, Jannes
Dentz, Marco
Hidalgo, Juan J.
author_facet Kordilla, Jannes
Dentz, Marco
Hidalgo, Juan J.
contents We introduce the open-source Python-based code openKARST for flow in karst conduit networks. Flow and transport in complex karst systems remain a challenging area of hydrogeological research due to the heterogeneous nature of conduit networks. Flow regimes in these systems are highly dynamic, with transitions from free-surface to fully pressurized and laminar to turbulent flow conditions and Reynolds numbers often exceeding one million. These transitions can occur simultaneously within a network, depending on conduit roughness properties and diameter distributions. openKARST solves the transient dynamic wave equation using an iterative scheme and is optimized through an efficient vectorized structure. Transitions from free-surface to pressurized flows in smooth and rough circular conduits are realized via a Preissmann slot approach in combination with an implementation of the Darcy--Weisbach and Manning equations to compute friction losses. To mitigate numerical fluctuations commonly encountered in the Colebrook--White equation, the dynamic switching from laminar to turbulent flows is modeled with a continuous Churchill formulation for the friction factor computation. openKARST supports common boundary conditions encountered in karst systems, as and includes functionalities for network import, export and visualization. The code is verified via comparison against several analytical solutions and validated against a laboratory experiment. Finally, we demonstrate the application of openKARST by simulating a synthetic recharge event in one of the largest explored karst networks, the Ox Bel Ha system in Mexico.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_22320
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle openKARST: A novel open-source flow simulator for karst systems
Kordilla, Jannes
Dentz, Marco
Hidalgo, Juan J.
Fluid Dynamics
We introduce the open-source Python-based code openKARST for flow in karst conduit networks. Flow and transport in complex karst systems remain a challenging area of hydrogeological research due to the heterogeneous nature of conduit networks. Flow regimes in these systems are highly dynamic, with transitions from free-surface to fully pressurized and laminar to turbulent flow conditions and Reynolds numbers often exceeding one million. These transitions can occur simultaneously within a network, depending on conduit roughness properties and diameter distributions. openKARST solves the transient dynamic wave equation using an iterative scheme and is optimized through an efficient vectorized structure. Transitions from free-surface to pressurized flows in smooth and rough circular conduits are realized via a Preissmann slot approach in combination with an implementation of the Darcy--Weisbach and Manning equations to compute friction losses. To mitigate numerical fluctuations commonly encountered in the Colebrook--White equation, the dynamic switching from laminar to turbulent flows is modeled with a continuous Churchill formulation for the friction factor computation. openKARST supports common boundary conditions encountered in karst systems, as and includes functionalities for network import, export and visualization. The code is verified via comparison against several analytical solutions and validated against a laboratory experiment. Finally, we demonstrate the application of openKARST by simulating a synthetic recharge event in one of the largest explored karst networks, the Ox Bel Ha system in Mexico.
title openKARST: A novel open-source flow simulator for karst systems
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.22320