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An analytical solution technique for one‐dimensional, steady vertical water flow in layered soils
Author(s) -
Rockhold Mark L.,
Simmons Carver S.,
Fayer Michael J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/96wr03746
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , soil water , exponential function , exact solutions in general relativity , flow (mathematics) , piecewise , mathematics , function (biology) , piecewise linear function , mathematical analysis , geotechnical engineering , mechanics , mathematical optimization , geology , geometry , soil science , physics , evolutionary biology , biology
An analytical solution technique was developed for one‐dimensional, steady vertical water flow in variably saturated, layered soils with arbitrary hydraulic properties. The solution technique is based on the exact integral solution for the Gardner exponential hydraulic conductivity function. The exact solution is extended for use with arbitrary hydraulic property functions, or measured K(h) data, by approximating ln K(h) with piecewise‐linear curve segments and integrating analytically, segment by segment. The resulting analytical solution technique is accurate, computationally efficient, and applicable to unsaturated and/or saturated conditions. Several application examples are presented, including a comparison with earlier experimental results.