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A finite element dual mesh method to calculate Nodal Darcy velocities in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic aquifers
Author(s) -
Batu Vedat
Publication year - 1984
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/wr020i011p01705
Subject(s) - darcy's law , anisotropy , finite element method , hydraulic head , head (geology) , aquifer , mechanics , porous medium , darcy–weisbach equation , mathematics , flow (mathematics) , porosity , mathematical analysis , geometry , geology , geotechnical engineering , physics , engineering , structural engineering , geomorphology , groundwater , quantum mechanics
A finite element dual mesh method is developed to calculate the horizontal and vertical Darcy velocity components in a highly nonhomogeneous and anisotropic aquifer of constant porosity under steady flow conditions. The finite element method is used to calculate the total head distribution. The finite difference forms of the total head gradients are used to calculate the Darcy velocity components. It is shown that the dual mesh method is suitable for calculating the nodal Darcy velocities with acceptable accuracy. The continuity principle is satisfied to an acceptable degree. The results are compared with an analytical solution, and the agreement is excellent. The results are also compared with another method proposed by Gureghian (1981) and Yeh (1981), and it is observed that the agreement is reasonably good. The dual mesh method can be applied to any nonhomogeneous and anisotropic porous medium to calculate the nodal Darcy velocities.