Boundary depletion rate and drawdown in leaky wedge‐shaped aquifers

This study presents analytical solutions of the three‐dimensional groundwater flow to a well in leaky confined and leaky water table wedge‐shaped aquifers. Leaky wedge‐shaped aquifers with and without storage in the aquitard are considered, and both transient and steady‐state drawdown solutions are derived. Unlike the previous solutions of the wedge‐shaped aquifers, the leakages from aquitard are considered in these solutions and unlike similar previous work for leaky aquifers, leakage from aquitards and from the water table are treated as the lower and upper boundary conditions. A special form of finite Fourier transforms is used to transform the z‐coordinate in deriving the solutions. The leakage induced by a partially penetrating pumping well in a wedge‐shaped aquifer depends on aquitard hydraulic parameters, the wedge‐shaped aquifer parameters, as well as the pumping well parameters. We calculate lateral boundary dimensionless flux at a representative line and investigate its sensitivity to the aquitard hydraulic parameters. We also investigate the effects of wedge angle, partial penetration, screen location and piezometer location on the steady‐state dimensionless drawdown for different leakage parameters. Results of our study are presented in the form of dimensionless flux‐dimensionless time and dimensionless drawdown‐leakage parameter type curves. The results are useful for evaluating the relative role of lateral wedge boundaries and leakage source on flow in wedge‐shaped aquifers. This is very useful for water management problems and for assessing groundwater pollution. The presented analytical solutions can also be used in parameter identification and in calculating stream depletion rate and volume. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi-analytical solutions of groundwater flow in multi-zone (patchy) wedge-shaped aquifers

Alluvial fans are potential sites of potable groundwater in many parts of the world. Characteristics of alluvial fans sediments are changed radially from high energy coarse-grained deposition near the apex to low energy fine-grained deposition downstream so that patchy wedge-shaped aquifers with radial heterogeneity are formed. The hydraulic parameters of the aquifers (e.g. hydraulic conductivity and specific storage) change in the same fashion. Analytical or semi-analytical solutions of the flow in wedge-shaped aquifers are available for homogeneous cases. In this paper we derive semi-analytical solutions of groundwater flow to a well in multi-zone wedge-shaped aquifers. Solutions are provided for three wedge boundary configurations namely: constant head–constant head wedge, constant head–barrier wedge and barrier–barrier wedge. Derivation involves the use of integral transforms methods. The effect of heterogeneity ratios of zones on the response of the aquifer is examined. The results are presented in form of drawdown and drawdown derivative type curves. Heterogeneity has a significant effect on over all response of the pumped aquifer. Solutions help understanding the behavior of heterogeneous multi-zone aquifers for sustainable development of the groundwater resources in alluvial fans.     

Analytical solutions for 2D topography-driven flow in stratified and syncline aquifers

Two analytical solution methods are presented for regional steady-state groundwater flow in a two-dimensional stratified aquifer cross section where the water table is approximated by the topographic surface. For the first solution, the surficial aquifer is represented as a set of dipping parallel layers with different, but piecewise constant, anisotropic hydraulic conductivities, where the anisotropy is aligned with the dip of the layered formation. The model may be viewed as a generalization of the solutions developed by [Tóth JA. A theoretical analysis of groundwater flows in small drainage basins. J Geophys Res 1963;68(16):4795–812; Freeze R, Witherspoon P. Theoretical analysis of regional groundwater flow 1) analytical and numerical solution to the mathematical model, water resources research. Water Resour Res 1966;2(4):641–56; Selim HM. Water flow through multilayered stratified hillside. Water Resour Res 1975;11:949–57] to an multi-layer aquifer with general anisotropy, layer orientation, and a topographic surface that may intersect multiple layers. The second solution presumes curved (syncline) layer stratification with layer-dependent anisotropy aligned with the polar coordinate system. Both solutions are exact everywhere in the domain except at the topographic surface, where a Dirichlet condition is met in a least-squared sense at a set of control points; the governing equation and no-flow/continuity conditions are met exactly. The solutions are derived and demonstrated on multiple test cases. The error incurred at the location where the layer boundaries intersect the surface is assessed.     

Using the extended finite element method for simulation of transient well leakage in multilayer aquifers

The extended finite element (XFEM) is applied to the problem of transient leakage from abandoned or free-flowing artesian wells in perforated aquifer-aquitard systems. To more accurately capture the singularities in potentiometric head at the wells, the standard linear finite element basis is locally augmented with asymptotic analytical solutions which enable more accurate calculations of leakage rates between aquifers. Highly accurate flux estimates are obtained without the need for higher mesh resolution near wells. Simulations are carried out to test both the accuracy and convergence properties of the XFEM implementation, and the XFEM results are compared to those of a high-resolution standard finite element model. It is seen that for the type of singularity-driven problem posed here, the standard FEM is unable to resolve leakage rates without very fine discretization, but that the XFEM performs robustly with fewer degrees of freedom. The impact of aquifer geometric heterogeneity on leakage rates is assessed and seen to be an important factor in determining total leakage. It is demonstrated that the XFEM may be a valuable tool in many water resources applications where small-scale effects can impact global system behavior.     

Describing near surface, transient flow processes in unconfined aquifers below irrigated lands: A deforming finite element model for heterogeneous aquifers

Hydrologic models of irrigated lands generally adopt either a basin-scale or a root-zone perspective. While basin-wide macro-scale models rely on the aggregation of important spatial and temporal data across large areas, micro-scale root-zone models depend on the definition of rigid boundaries around the zone of plant–soil–water interaction. In reality, irrigation management decisions are made on a field by field basis and can interact across field boundaries. This paper first describes a shallow water table model, based on deforming finite element (DFE) framework, to characterize the near-surface field-to-field hydrologic response to various irrigation and drainage management regimes along a gently sloping alluvial fan. The model is then enhanced through changing geometry of a fluctuating water table below a series of irrigated fields. Such an enhancement also offers computational flexibility relative to the saturated–unsaturated models commonly used in micro-scale studies. The model is designed with the alluvial fan aquifers of California’s western San Joaquin Valley as reference systems.     

隐伏地质构造的大地电磁有限单元法正演模拟

对常见的隐伏地质构造体进行大地电磁场正演模拟,并研究和总结了构造体对大地电磁场的响应特征.由麦克斯韦方程组导出大地电磁场的边界条件,应用有限单元法求解变分问题并得出刚度矩阵,根据线性方程组计算出相应的场值,再由改进的视电阻率定义式求出视电阻率.模拟结果显示:改进的视电阻率定义式相对于传统的Cagniard定义式能有效地提高视电阻率曲线的收敛速度和逼近程度;隐伏地质构造体对大地电磁场的响应具有一定的规律性,通过分析两种极化模式下的正演结果,可以有效地识别地质构造体的存在和分布情况.通过实例分析,得出隐伏地质构造正演模拟与实际观测资料的互相验证关系,为实践应用中的反演工作提供了重要的指导意义.     

Series solutions for flow in stratified aquifers with natural geometry

An analytical series solution method is presented for modeling regional steady-state groundwater flow in a two-dimensional stratified aquifer cross-section where the water table is well-characterized. The aquifer system may have any number of contiguous or non-contiguous layers and the geometry of each layer is restricted only by the requirement that the elevation of the stratigraphic unconformities between layers is a function of the x-coordinate alone. Various techniques may be used to handle pinching layers, faults, and other discontinuities. The solutions are obtained by minimizing head and flow continuity errors between layers and errors in the Dirichlet surface at a set of control points along these unconformities; the governing equation is met exactly. The solutions are derived and demonstrated on multiple test cases. The errors for some specific, geometrically challenging cases are assessed and discussed.     

任意各向异性介质三维非结构谱元法直流电阻率正演模拟研究

各向异性是地电异常解释中不可忽视的因素,广泛存在于裂隙或层理发育的地质环境中.本文针对任意各向异性条件下直流电阻率法三维正演问题进行研究,结合非结构谱元法建立模拟算法,充分利用谱方法的指数收敛性以及非结构有限元对地形和复杂异常体刻画能力,提高计算精度和效率.通过灵活的四面体网格剖分和高阶谱插值,实现了复杂介质任意各向异性模型电阻率响应的高精度数值模拟.我们首先通过层状各向异性模型验证本文非结构谱元法的计算精度,进而我们以半空间中立方体模型为例分析各向异性对电阻率响应的影响特征,并通过计算针对不同各向异性参数的视电阻率极性图,探究地下介质各向异性特征识别方法.最后,我们针对典型的山脊模型计算和分析存在地形效应条件下各向异性电流场分布及视电阻率特征.模型计算结果表明基于四面体网格的谱元法模拟带有复杂地形和异常体的任意各向异性模型具有很高的计算精度.本文的研究成果将在推进电阻率方法用于解决裂隙及层理等环境和工程地质问题中发挥积极作用.

     

Advantages of the analytic element method for the solution of groundwater management problems

In the simulation‐optimization approach, a coupled optimization and groundwater flow/transport model is used to solve groundwater management problems. The efficiency of the numerical method, which is used to simulate the groundwater flow, is one the major reason to obtain the best solution for a management problem. This study was carried out to examine the advantages of the analytic element method (AEM) in the simulation‐optimization approach, for the solution of groundwater management problems. For this study, the AEM and finite difference method (FDM) based flow models were developed and coupled with the particle swarm optimization (PSO)‐based optimization model. Furthermore, the AEM‐PSO and FDM‐PSO models developed were applied in hypothetical as well as real field conditions to address groundwater management problems and the results were compared. For the real field situation, the models developed were applied to the Dore River basin in France to minimize the installation and operational cost of new pumping wells taking the location and discharge of the pumping wells as decision variables. The constraints of the problem were identified with the help of stakeholders and water authority officials. The AEM flow model was developed to facilitate the management model particularly when at each iteration, the optimization model calls for a simulation model to calculate the values of groundwater heads. The results show that, at some points, the AEM‐PSO model is efficient in identifying the optimal location of wells and consequently results in optimal costs, sometimes difficult when using the FDM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element modelling for water waves-soil interaction

The soil permeability and shear modulus of many marine sediments vary with depth because of consolidation under overburden pressure. However, conventional theories for wave-induced soil response have assumed a homogeneous porous seabed, with constant soil permeability and shear modulus. This paper presents a finite element model for the wave-induced soil response in a porous seabed, with variable permeability and shear modulus as a function of burial depth. The soil matrix considered here is unsaturated and hydraulically anisotropic, and subjected to a three-dimensional short-crested wave system. The present finite element formulation is established by using a combination of semi-analytical techniques and the Galerkin method. The nodal effective stresses directly derived from the governing equations can be calculated accurately in the present model. Verification is available through the reduction to the simple case of homogeneous seabed. Three typical marine materials, course, fine sand and gravel, are considered in this study. The numerical results indicate that the soil permeability affects the wave-induced seabed response significantly especially for gravelled seabed, as does the soil shear modulus for sandy seabed.     

Random domain decomposition for flow in heterogeneous stratified aquifers

We study two-dimensional flow in a layered heterogeneous medium composed of two materials whose hydraulic properties and spatial distribution are known statistically but are otherwise uncertain. Our analysis relies on the composite media theory, which employs random domain decomposition in the context of groundwater flow moment equations to explicitly account for the separate effects of material and geometric uncertainty on ensemble moments of head and flux. Flow parallel and perpendicular to the layering in a two-material composite layered medium is considered. The hydraulic conductivity of each material is log-normally distributed with a much higher mean in one material than in the other. The hydraulic conductivities of points within different materials are uncorrelated. The location of the internal boundary between the two contrasting materials is random and normally distributed with given mean and variance. We solve the equations for (ensemble) moments of hydraulic head and flux and analyze the impact of unknown geometry of materials on statistical moments of head and flux. We compare the composite media approach to approximations that replace statistically inhomogeneous conductivity fields with pseudo-homogeneous random fields. This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy (DOE): DOE/BES (Bureau of Energy Sciences) Program in the Applied Mathematical Sciences contract KC-07–01–01 and Los Alamos National Laboratory under LDRD 98604. This work made use of STC shared experimental facilities supported by the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. EAR-9876800. This work was supported in part by the European Commission under Contract No. EVK1-CT-1999–00041 (W-SAHaRA).     

Multiobjective fuzzy optimization for sustainable groundwater management using particle swarm optimization and analytic element method

Groundwater management involves conflicting objectives as maximization of discharge contradicts the criteria of minimum pumping cost and minimum piping cost. In addition, available data contains uncertainties such as market fluctuations, variations in water levels of wells and variations of ground water policies. A fuzzy model is to be evolved to tackle the uncertainties, and a multiobjective optimization is to be conducted to simultaneously satisfy the contradicting objectives. Towards this end, a multiobjective fuzzy optimization model is evolved. To get at the upper and lower bounds of the individual objectives, particle Swarm optimization (PSO) is adopted. The analytic element method (AEM) is employed to obtain the operating potentio metric head. In this study, a multiobjective fuzzy optimization model considering three conflicting objectives is developed using PSO and AEM methods for obtaining a sustainable groundwater management policy. The developed model is applied to a case study, and it is demonstrated that the compromise solution satisfies all the objectives with adequate levels of satisfaction. Sensitivity analysis is carried out by varying the parameters, and it is shown that the effect of any such variation is quite significant. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

单元畸变对动力有限元方法计算精度的影响

在有限元分析中,由于求解区域或边界的不规则,有限单元的划分会产生畸变单元。本文通过数值试验分析了有限单元畸变对动力有限元计算精度的影响,结果表明:长宽比畸变对动力有限元计算精度没有影响;当斜交角不小于30°时,斜交角对动力有限元计算精度的影响可忽略;锥度对动力有限元计算精度有影响,锥度越大,锥度对动力有限元计算精度的影响越大。     

2.5D direct‐current resistivity forward modelling and inversion by finite‐element–infinite‐element coupled method

To reduce the numerical errors arising from the improper enforcement of the artificial boundary conditions on the distant surface that encloses the underground part of the subsurface, we present a finite‐element–infinite‐element coupled method to significantly reduce the computation time and memory cost in the 2.5D direct‐current resistivity inversion. We first present the boundary value problem of the secondary potential. Then, a new type of infinite element is analysed and applied to replace the conventionally used mixed boundary condition on the distant boundary. In the internal domain, a standard finite‐element method is used to derive the final system of linear equations. With a novel shape function for infinite elements at the subsurface boundary, the final system matrix is sparse, symmetric, and independent of source electrodes. Through lower upper decomposition, the multi‐pole potentials can be swiftly obtained by simple back‐substitutions. We embed the newly developed forward solution to the inversion procedure. To compute the sensitivity matrix, we adopt the efficient adjoint equation approach to further reduce the computation cost. Finally, several synthetic examples are tested to show the efficiency of inversion.     

垃圾填埋场渗滤液污染地下含水层及修复过程的三维动态监测实验

为实现垃圾填埋场渗滤液在地下含水层中动态扩散及污染层修复过程的实时监测,利用自行设计的三维电学观测系统开展了室内相关监测实验.实验表明渗滤液在含水层中的扩散过程会引起不同时期实测电剖面上低阻异常区的动态变化.对比分析这种变化特征可确定渗滤液扩散区的污染程度、扩散速度及扩散方向.在注水修复过程中,扩散区污染物含量的降低会引起对应区域实测视电阻率值的升高和异常区范围的变化.实验结果对于实现垃圾渗滤液污染地下含水层现状调查及动态监测具有重要意义.     

Regression method for estimating rainfall recharge at unconfined sandy aquifers with an equatorial climate

A reliable estimate of rainfall recharge is essential for groundwater system managements. This study develops a method based on regression equations for estimating rainfall recharge at unconfined sandy aquifers with an equatorial climate. The developed method (GR-I method) is generally efficient for estimating long-term regional recharge, as the computational procedures could be formulated and executed easily using Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet. More importantly, its application could be extended to sand textures different from the sand texture used in developing the regression equations. To evaluate its reliability, the method was applied to estimate monthly gross recharge percentages at the Changi reclaimed land. When ignoring the effect of rainfall clusters, the GR-I method was found to underestimate the monthly gross recharge percentages for those months with high monthly rainfall depths. By integrating the effect of rainfall clusters, the GR-I method yields reliable estimates of monthly gross recharge percentages. By including daily potential evaporation as an additional input variable, the Extended GR-I method was found to be not superior to the GR-I method, implying that soil moisture availability is the major governing factor for actual soil evaporation in the highly porous sand medium, instead of atmospheric demand represented by the potential evaporation rate. Using the GR-I method, the mean annual net recharge percentage of the study site was found to fall between 56·9 and 69·9%, which corresponds to a net recharge depth of 1073·8–1745·8 mm. Although the developed method provides a good alternative to other widely used methods, its recharge estimates still needs to be collaborated with estimates from other methods, as multiple techniques are highly recommended in any groundwater recharge estimations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of an integrated surface water‐groundwater model to multi‐aquifers modeling in Choushui River alluvial fan,Taiwan

This research proposes a combination of SWAT and MODFLOW, MD‐SWAT‐MODFLOW, to address the multi‐aquifers condition in Choushui River alluvial fan, Taiwan. The natural recharge and unidentified pumping/recharge are separately estimated. The model identifies the monthly pumping/recharge rates in multi‐aquifers so that the daily streamflow can be simulated correctly. A multi‐aquifers condition means a subsurface formation composed of at least the unconfined aquifer, the confined aquifer, and an in‐between aquitard. In such a case, the variation of groundwater level is related to pumping/recharge activities in vertically adjacent aquifer and the river‐aquifer interaction. Both factors in turn affect the streamflow performance. Results show that MD‐SWAT‐MODFLOW performs better than SWAT alone in terms of simulated streamflow, especially during low flow period, when pumping/recharge rates are properly estimated. A sensitivity analysis of individual parameter suggests that the vertical leakance may be the most sensitive among all investigated MODFLOW parameters in terms of the estimated pumping/recharge among aquifers, and the Latin‐Hypercube‐One‐factor‐At‐a‐Time sensitivity analysis indicates that the hydraulic conductivity of channel is the most sensitive to the model performance. It also points out the necessity to simultaneously estimate pumping/recharge rates in multi‐aquifers. The estimated net pumping rate can be treated as a lower bound of the actual local pumping rate. As a whole, the model provides the spatio‐temporal groundwater use, which gives the authorities insights to manage groundwater resources. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distinct element modelling of the in-plane cyclic response of URM walls subjected to shear-compression

The in-plane capacity of unreinforced masonry (URM) elements may vary considerably depending on several factors, including boundary conditions, aspect ratio, vertical overburden, and masonry texture. Since the overall system resistance mainly relies on the in-plane lateral capacity of URM components when out-of-plane modes are adequately prevented, the structural assessment of URM structures could benefit from advanced numerical approaches able to account for these factors simultaneously. This paper aims at enhancing and optimising the employment of the distinct element method, currently confined to the analysis of local mechanisms of reduced-scale dry-joint blocky assemblies, with a view to simulate the experimentally observed responses of a series of URM full-scale specimens with mortared joints subjected to quasi-static in-plane cyclic loading. To this end, a mesoscale modelling approach is proposed that employs a simplified microscale modelling approach to effectively capture macroscale behaviour. Dynamic relaxation schemes are employed, in combination with time, size, and mass-scaling procedures, to decrease computational demand. A new methodology for numerically describing both unit, mortar and hybrid failure modes, also including masonry crushing due to high-compression stresses, is proposed. Empirical and homogenisation formulae for inferring the elastic properties of interface between elements are also verified, enabling the proposed approach to be applied more broadly. Using this modelling strategy, the interaction between stiffness degradation and energy dissipation rate was accounted for numerically. Although the models marginally underestimate the energy dissipation in the case of slender piers, a good agreement was obtained in terms of lateral strength, hysteretic response, and crack pattern.     

Performance comparison of multiple and single surrogate models for pumping optimization of coastal aquifers

Single and multiple surrogate models were compared for single-objective pumping optimization problems of a hypothetical and a real-world coastal aquifer. Different instances of radial basis functions and kriging surrogates were utilized to reduce the computational cost of direct optimization with variable density and salt transport models. An adaptive surrogate update scheme was embedded in the operations of an evolutionary algorithm to efficiently control the feasibility of optimal solutions in pumping optimization problems with multiple constraints. For a set of independent optimization runs, results showed that multiple surrogates, either by selecting the best or by using ensembles, did not necessarily outperform the single surrogate approach. Nevertheless, the ensemble with optimal weights produced slightly better results than selecting only the best surrogates or applying a simple averaging approach. For all cases, the computational cost, by using single or multiple surrogate models, was reduced by up to 90% of the direct optimization.     

Parallel finite element algorithm with domain decomposition for three-dimensional magnetotelluric modelling

We present a new finite element (FE) method for magnetotelluric modelling of three-dimensional conductivity structures. Maxwell's equations are treated as a system of first-order partial differential equations for the secondary fields. Absorbing boundary conditions are introduced, minimizing undesired boundary effects and allowing the use of small computational domains. The numerical algorithm presented here is an iterative, domain decomposition procedure employing a nonconforming FE space. It does not use global matrices, therefore allowing the modellization of large and complicated structures. The algorithm is naturally parallellizable, and we show results obtained in the IBM SP2 parallel supercomputer at Purdue University. The accuracy of the numerical method is verified by checking the computed solutions with the results of COMMEMI, the international project on the comparison of modelling methods for electromagnetic induction.