# Parametric Analysis for 3D Modeling of Consolidation-Induced Solute Transport Using OpenFOAM
## 5 Conclusions  
This study systematically analyzes the multidimensional consolidation-induced transport of solutes, emphasizing the significant impact of various parameters on consolidation and solute migration. The key findings are as follows. 1. During consolidation, pore water pressure (\(p\)) and vertical displacement (\(u_{z}\)) exhibit notable spatio-temporal variations. Hydraulic conductivity (**K**) and shear modulus (\(G\)) are crucial: high **K** leads to rapid pressure dissipation and greater displacement, while low **K** results in slower pressure changes and smaller displacement. A low \(G\) value softens the soil, increasing pressure and deformation, while a high \(G\) value enhances stiffness, reducing deformation. Saturation (\(S_{r}\)) and Poisson's ratio (\(\
u\)) also significantly affect consolidation, with high \(S_{r}\) causing greater initial pressure and low \(\
u\) leading to a more pronounced vertical stress concentration. 2. Hydraulic conductivity **K** is a major parameter affecting solute migration, while the impact of saturation \(S_{r}\) is relatively minor. A low **K** value leads to solute accumulation in the upper soil layers, whereas a high **K** value promotes deeper diffusion. Although \(S_{r}\) has a limited effect on solute migration, higher saturation levels cause a slight increase in solute concentration, indicating that changes in water saturation have a secondary influence on migration pathways and distribution. 3. The shear modulus \(G\) and Poisson's ratio \(\
u\) affect soil compression rate and volumetric strain by controlling deformation characteristics, which in turn changes pore water pressure and hydraulic gradients, influencing solute migration rate and direction. Lower \(G\) makes the soil more deformable, altering pore structure and flow paths, thus accelerating solute migration and increasing concentration. \(\
u\) controls the lateral-to-vertical deformation ratio; lower \(\
u\) speeds up solute diffusion, while higher \(\
u\) slows it  
Figure 37: Concentration contour plots in the \(x\)-\(y\) plane at \(z=1.5\) m under varying anisotropy ratio over 10 years. down. These deformation adjustments impact pore structure and hydraulic pathways, altering solute transport routes. * Higher \(K_{d}\) values significantly slow solute migration through enhanced adsorption and reduced vertical transport into deeper layers. At the same time, increasing anisotropy ratios (\(\frac{K_{x}}{K_{x}}\) and \(\frac{K_{y}}{K_{x}}\)) enhances horizontal transport, concentrating its effects in the center region while exerting limited influence on vertical migration. This trend remains consistent even when horizontal anisotropy is non-symmetric (\(K_{x}\
eq K_{y}\)), as shown in **Case 14**. Once the anisotropy ratio exceeds a critical threshold (\(\frac{K_{x}}{K_{x}}\approx 5\)), further increases result in negligible changes, highlighting diminishing returns in solute transport enhancement. * Significant differences exist between the center and edge positions in terms of pressure, deformation, and solute accumulation. Typically, the center experiences higher pressure, greater deformation, and faster solute migration compared to the edges. In summary, this study highlights the critical roles of \(\mathbf{K}\), \(G\), \(S_{r}\), \(\
u\), \(K_{d}\), and the anisotropy ratio in consolidation and solute transport, offering valuable insights for model optimization and practical applications, particularly in multidimensional unsaturated porous media. Although this study advances our understanding of multidimensional consolidation-induced solute transport, certain limitations remain. First, the absence of suitable experimental data for model validation leaves the accuracy and applicability of the model in need of further verification. Furthermore, future improvements will focus on finer-scale modeling and realistic, heterogeneous geometries to broaden the model's applicability.