Equations of Groundwater Flow

Description of ground water flow is based on: Darcys Law Continuity Equation describes conservation of fluid mass during flow through a porous medium; results in a partial differential equation of flow.

Laplaces Eqn - most important in math

Derivation of 3-D GW Flow Equation from Darcys Law

z

x V
y

x + ( V) V x x

Mass In - Mass Out = Change in Storage

(V ( y (V = x) ) z) 0 V x y z

Derivation of 3-D GW Flow Equation from Darcys Law

Replace Vx, Vy, and Vz with Darcy using Kx, Ky, and Kz
h h h x + K K 0 y + z = K x x y y z z

Divide out constant , and assume Kx= Ky= Kz = K

2 2 2 h h h + 2 + 2 =0 2 x y z 2 h=0cldaa E. a Llc q le p e n

Transient Saturated Flow

(V ( y (V = (n x ) z) V ) ) x y z t

A change in h will produce change in and n, replaced with specific storage Ss = g( + n). Note, is the compressibility of aquifer and B is comp of water, therefore,
h h h h K + y K + z S K =s x x x y y z z t

Solutions to GW Flow Eqns.

Solutions for only a few simple problems can be obtained directly Generally need to apply numerical methods to address complex boundary conditions.
2 2 2 h h h + 2 + 2 =0 2 x y z 2 h=0cldaa E. a Llc q le p e n

h0

h1

Transient Saturated Flow

Simplifying by assuming K = constant in all dimensions And assuming that S = Ssb, and that T = Kb yields
h h h S s h + + = x y z K t x y z

2h 2h 2h S s h + 2+ 2 = 2 x y z K t S h 2 h= fo Jcb rm o, a Ti hs e T t

Steady State Flow to Well

Simplifying by assuming K = constant in all dimensions and assuming that Transmissivity T = Kb and Q = flow rate to well at point (x,y) yields

Q ,y x h h ( ) + 2= 2 x y T
2 2