International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology E-ISSN 0976-3945

Research Article
A MULTIPLE SCALING SOLUTION OF THE SEEPAGE
OF GROUNDWATER FLOW DOWN SLOPING
BEDROCK IN HETROGENEOUS SOIL IN THE
VERTICAL DIRECTION
1
N.B.Desai, 2M.S.Joshi, 3M.N.Mehta
Address for Correspondence
1
Head Department of Mathematics, A.D.Patel Institute of Technology,New V.V.Nagar- 388
121,India, E-mail: drnbdesai@yahoo.co.in
2
Head Department of Mathematics, C.K.Pithawala College of Engineering and Technology,
Surat-395 007, India, E-mail: mitesh joshi2003@yahoo.com
3
Professor Department of Mathematics, S.V.National Institute of Technology, Surat- 395 007,
India, E-mail: mnm@ashd.svnit.ac.in
ABSTRACT
In the present case the free surface has been obtained here by using Multiple Scaling Method, considering
ε as perturbation parameter. In case of homogeneous soil with small slope the free surface is concave
downwards and the pressure head at head reservoir is greater than that of the tail reservoir. It is observed
here that both cases the free surface found a falling surface.
KEY WORDS: Ground water, Riccati’s equation
=====================================================================
1 INTRODUCTION soil on a sloping bedrock and other in, two
In this paper, the mathematical modeling layered soil with slightly inclined common
and the analysis of the seepage problem boundary when lower layer is heterogeneous

of groundwater flow by using the
hydraulic theory [1]. This problem in
homogeneous soil on slightly inclined
bedrock has been discussed
Polubarinova-Kochina [7]. She
identified four different cases: in two of
these, flow proceeds down the bedrock
slope and in the other two it proceeds up
the slope. Here one case is discusses.
The seepage of groundwater flow down
sloping bedrock in heterogeneous soil in
and upper one homogeneous. Mehta [3] has
discussed the free surface using the method
of matched asymptotic expansion. Patel [5]
has discussed the free surface in terms of
by
confluent hyper geometry functions. The
has
free surface has been obtained here by using
Multiple Scaling Method, considering ε as
perturbation parameter. In case of
homogeneous soil with small slope the free
surface is concave downwards and the
pressure head at head reservoir is greater
than that of the tail reservoir. It is observed

the vertical direction. Verma [8, 9] has here that both cases the free surface found a

obtained series solutions for problems of falling surface.

groundwater seepage: one, in heterogeneous

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Figure 2.1 Seepage over inclined bedrock

2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM (z) is the seepage coefficient of the
To understand this problem, here it is porous medium, which varies with z
assumed that water from a head reservoir, linearly.
flow into adjacent soil, which stands on For definiteness we assume that
inclined bedrock and exhibits heterogeneity
k(z) = k 0 (1 − bz) (3.2)
in the vertical direction. After seeping over
Where k 0 and b are non-zero constants and
considerable distance it falls into a tail
b>0, Verma [8].
reservoir. To examine here the nature of the
When such flow of groundwater takes place
free surface of flow in a vertical plane when
over considerable distance, the analysis is
the seepage face is neglected. We choose a
based on hydraulic theory. In the hydraulic
horizontal line at the bottom of the tail
theory, the h is equal to the height of the free
reservoir as the X-axis, a vertical line
surface (neglecting the atmospheric
besides it as Z-axis. The inclined boundary
pressure) and the flow elements depend on x
is t he line z = -mx, where
alone. Hence the flow rate q x is
 π
m = tanα ,  0 < α <  is the slope of the h
 2 dh
dx ∫0
qx = − k(z) dz (3.3)
inclined bedrock. (Fig2.1)
MATHEMATICAL FORMULATIONS Where z = 0 is the foot and z = h is the top
According to Darcy’s law, the seepage of the vertical section at a distance x for
velocity is given by
dh
which q x is measured; is independent of
dh dx
u = − k(z) (3.1)
dx z.
Where h is the piezometric head and k
The equation of continuity is

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 International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology E-ISSN 0976-3945

dqx in to equation (3.12) to obtain

=0 (3.4)
dx d2s
qx = constant = q (say) (3.5) − R1s = 0 (3.14)
dh2
From equation (3.2), (3.3) and (3.5)
Where,
We obtain
2
h k m 
dh R1 =  0 (1− bh) (3.15)
q = −k0 ∫ (1− bz) dz
dx -mx
(3.6)  2q 
Performing the integration and on For further simplification of (3.14) we
rearrangement we obtain, consider
dx k0m
= P(h) + Qx + Rx2 (3.7) H= (1− bh) (3.16)
dh 2q
Where
to get
k  b 
P(h) = − 0  h − h2  (3.8) d2s
q 2  2
+ aH2s = 0 (3.17)
dH
km
Q=− 0 (3.9)
q Choosing slope m, k 0 and b such that
k0bm2 k 02 m 2 b 2 > 4q 2 so that
R=− (3.10)
2q
The equation (3.7) is the generalized Where

Riccati’s equation. 4q2

a= − = ε << 1 'say' (3.18)
To solve it we substitute k02m2b2
1 dh (b ≠ 0, m ≠ 0)
x=− (3.11)
Rt dt ε is considered as very small positive
This transforms equation (3.7) into perturbation parameter
d2 t dt The equation (3.17) can be written as
2
− Q + PRt = 0 (3.12)
dh dh s'' + f(ε H2 )s = 0 (3.19)
This is a second order linear differential Where
equation whose solution is obtained in terms f(ε H2 ) = aH2 > 0 (3.20)
of WKB approximation. Where f (εH ) ≠ 0 and ε is a small
2

We convert equation (3.12) into the standard parameter.

form to obtain Multiple Scaling Solution. To Equation (3.19) is standard form of the
remove the first order derivative terms from equation (3.12), which represents the
(3.12), we substitute, governing equation of the flow system.
 km 
t = st' where t' = exp  - 0 h  (3.13)
 2q 

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4 MULTIPLE SCALE SOLUTION require the vanishing of the coefficients of

Since in reality, h is very large and therefore exp (± i η) on the right hand side of (4.8);
H is also large. To obtain an expansion that is
2
uniformly valid for large H , we assume that g''A + 2g'A' = 0 (4.9)
there exists an asymptotic representation for g''B + 2g'B' = 0 (4.10)
s of the form The solutions of these equations are

s = s0 (ξ,η) + ε s1 (ξ,η) + ... (4.1) a%0 b%0

A= , B= (4.11)
where g' g'
~ ~
g(ε ) Where a and b0 are constants of
ξ=εH , 2
η= + ... (4.2) 0

ε integration.
Substituting (4.1) and (4.2) into (3.19) and
If f (ε H 2 ) > 0, s is given by
equating the coefficients of ε 0 and ε to zero,
we obtain,   -1 ε H
2

a0cos  ε ∫ f(y) dy 
∂2s0   0 
 
g'2 + f (ξ) s0 = 0 (4.3) 1  
∂η2 s= + +
4 2 
f (ε H ) 
∂2s1 ∂s0 ∂2s0  εH 
2

g ' 2 + f (ξ)s1 + g '' + 2g '

2
= 0 (4.4) b sin  ε-1 f(y) dy  
∂η ∂η ∂ξ∂η  0  ∫0 
The general solution of (4.4) is   
O(ε ) (4.12)
s0 = A (ξ) e-i γ η + B (ξ) e-i γ η (4.5)
Where a 0 and b 0 are constants.
Where
Expansions (4.12) is called the WKB
f(ξ)
γ2 = 2 (4.6) approximation to the solution of equation
g ' (ξ)
(3.19)
Setting γ = 1 to obtain an expansion in
Therefore, from equation (3.11) and (3.13)
s1 1 1
which is bounded for all η , hence x =−
s0 R   -1ε H
2
 
a0cosε ∫ f(y) dy+
ξ  0  
g = ∫ f(y) dy 1   
(4.7)   +O(ε )
 -1  
2 2
0 4
f (ε H )  ε H

Substituting for so into (4.4), and

b0sinε ∫ f(y) dy 
  0  
remembering that γ = 1 , we obtain (4.13)
 ∂ 2s1  2 ;f (ε H 2 ) > 0
 2 + s1  g ' = −i ( g''A + 2g'A') e
iη

 ∂η  Which represent x distance measured tail

+ i ( g''B + 2g'B') e (4.8) reservoir to the direction of flow from head
In order that s1/s be bounded for all η , we
reservoir to tail reservoir which will be

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function of ε and H in terms of hyper q

h0 < in the denominator.
geometric function which gives the curve of k 0m
free surface. Therefore, α < 0.
5 SEEPAGE IN HOMOGENEOUS SOIL Now differentiating the equation (5.5) twice
For the homogeneous soil, b = 0 and m ≠ 0 . with respect to h, we obtain
To deduce this case, we substitute b = 0 in 2 km
d2 x  k m  − 0 ( h −h0 )
(3.7). This yields the first order differential m 2 =α  0  e q (5.7)
dh  q 
equation.
d2x
Therefore < 0 this shows that the free
dx dh 2
− Q1x = P1 (h); (5.1)
dh surface is decreasing in concave downward
Where direction. This is a falling surface as
−k0h k0m explained by Polubarinova – Kochina[6].
P1 (h) = ; Q1 = − (5.2)
q q The equation (5.5) represents free surface as
Whose solution is given by
x in terms of negative exponential terms in
k0mh
q −
h + mx = + c3m e q
(5.3) (h − h 0 )
k0m
Now when seepage starts from head
Where c 3 is a constant.
reservoir to tail reservoir and when it meet z
Now from figure the boundary conditions is –axis at tail reservoir when h = h i , we must
that water falls into the tail reservoirs when
put x = 0, h = h i in the equation (5.5) to
h = h 0 ; x = 0 . Applying this condition to
obtain.
equation (5.3) we have
q  q   k0 m 
k0mh0 hi = +  h0 − 1− (hi − h0 ) 
e 
q
q  k0 m  k0 m   q 
c3 = h 0 −  (5.4)
m  k0 m  (5.8)
Where in exponential terms second and
From equation (5.3) and (5.4) we obtain
higher order terms have been neglected for
k0m
q - ( h − h0 )
h + mx = +α e q
(5.5) small m. For physical interpretation of the
k0 m result numerical as well as graphical
Where representation require for that it is necessary
 q  to simulate the result by using C language.
α = h0 −  (5.6)
 k0m 
Since m is very small, the sign being
governed by the term containing m such that

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k0=-0.00005

2500

2000

1500 h=25.0
h=30.0
h=35.0
x

Figure 6.1: Graphical Representation

h=40.0
h=45.0
1000 h=50.0

500

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
h=25.0 72.03 148.56 224.13 299.48 374.76 450.02 525.27 600.54 675.82 751.12 826.44
h=30.0 96.03 198.1 298.9 399.41 499.84 600.23 700.66 801.11 901.6 1002.1 1102.7
h=35.0 120.05 247.66 373.68 499.39 624.98 750.58 876.21 1001.9 1127.6 1253.4 1379.3
h=40.0 144.06 297.24 448.52 599.41 750.22 901.03 1051.9 1202.9 1353.9 1505 1656.3
h=45.0 168.09 346.81 523.37 699.49 875.52 1051.6 1227.8 1404 1580.4 1757 1933.7
h=50.0 192.11 396.41 598.23 799.61 1000.9 1202.3 1403.8 1605.4 1807.2 2009.2 2211.4

Figure 6.1: Graphical Representation

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7. CONCLUDING REMARKS 5. Patel, D.M. and Mehta, M.N. (1999): A

general solution of one-dimensional
For the heterogeneous soil we have flow in unsaturated porous media using
determined the equation of the free surface Whittaker’s Confluent hypergeometric
function; The Indian Academy of
in terms of WKB approximation. With the Mathematics, Vol.21, No.1
6. Polubarinova-Kochina (1952): About
help of multiple scaling method. The effect seepage in two strata with inclined
of heterogeneity of the soil on sloping boundary. Izvestiya Academiya Nank
(CCCP) Div. Tech. Sci. No.1.
bedrock is to depress the free surface at each 7. Polubarinova-Kochona, P.Ya. (1962):
Theory of Groundwater Movement;
point without reversing its concavity. In case Princeton Uni. Press. 416.
of homogeneous soil with small slope the 8. Verma, A.P. (1965): Seepage of
Groundwater in two layered soil with an
free surface is concave downwards and inclined boundary when lower layer is
heterogeneous and upper one
pressure head at head reservoir is greater homogeneous. Journal of Science and
than that of the tail reservoir. However, in Engineering Research, Kharagpur
(INDIA) Vol. IX part- I, 40-46.
both cases the free surface represents a 9. Verma A.P. (1967): Seepage of
Groundwater in heterogeneous soil on
falling surface. In compare to the earlier sloping bedrock. Revue Roumanie des
researcher, the solution obtained is simplest science Techniques, Mechanique
Appliquee, Rumania, Tome 12, No.
and physically significant and it shows the 6,1185-1191.
behaviour of free surface same as
Polubarinova-Kochina investigated. Fig. 6.1
represent graph of x Vs m for different
values of pressure head h for small k0 the
graph is increasing with increasing pressure
head h.
REFERENCES
1. Crichlow, H.B. (1977): Modern
Reservoir Engineering- A simulation
approach; Printice-Hall,New York.
2. Desai, N.B. (2002): The study of
problems arises in single and multiple
flow through porous media: Ph.D.
Thesis; South Gujarat Uni., Surat
(INDIA) 127-137
3. Mehta, M.N. (1977): Asymptotic
expansion of fluid flow through porous
media; Ph.D. Thesis; South Gujarat
Uni., Surat (INDIA) 62-83.
4. Miller, J.C.P. (1950): On the choice of
standard solutions for a homogeneous
linear differential equation of the
second order. Quart. J. Appl. Maths,3:
225-235.

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