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An Analytical Solution to Saturated Flow in a Finite Stratified Aquifer a
Author(s) -
Yates S. R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1988.tb00384.x
Subject(s) - aquifer , hydraulic conductivity , flow (mathematics) , geology , stratified flow , geotechnical engineering , aquifer test , mechanics , soil science , groundwater , physics , soil water , turbulence , groundwater recharge
An analytical solution for the flow of water in a saturated‐stratified aquitard‐aquifer‐aquitard system of finite length is presented. The analytical solution assumes one‐dimensional horizontal flow in the aquifer and two‐dimensional flow in the aquitards. Several examples are given which describe the use of the analytical solution. The horizontal flow assumption in the aquifer appears to be approximately valid when the hydraulic conductivity of the aquitards is less than or equal to about 10 percent of the aquifer value. A comparison is made between the analytical solution and a saturated‐unsaturated finite‐element solution for a situation where the upper layer is both saturated and unsaturated. For the situation investigated, the comparison indicates that the analytical solution provides an alternative to numerical models even when the upper layer is partially saturated.