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Theoretical analysis of regional groundwater flow: 1. Analytical and numerical solutions to the mathematical model
Author(s) -
Freeze R. Allan,
Witherspoon P. A.
Publication year - 1966
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/wr002i004p00641
Subject(s) - groundwater flow , flow (mathematics) , numerical analysis , groundwater , mathematical model , finite difference method , finite difference , computer science , mathematics , mathematical optimization , geology , geotechnical engineering , aquifer , geometry , mathematical analysis , statistics
It is possible to represent steady‐state regional groundwater flow in a three‐dimensional, nonhomogeneous, anisotropic basin by a mathematical model. The numerical finite‐difference approach can be used to solve the general case; the analytical separation of variables technique is restricted to two‐dimensional layered mediums. The numerical method is more versatile, mathematically simpler, and well suited to computer oriented methods of data storage. Computer results are in the form of plotted potential nets from which flow patterns can be constructed.