SAT GW Eqns

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Saturated Porous Media Flow

Fritz R. Fiedler

The equations that describe saturated groundwater flow can be derived using the control
volume approach (Reynolds Transport Theorem). Imagine that the following control
volume is filled with “porous media” – for example sand – and the entire pore space is
filled with water.
y

dz
qx ∂q x
qx + dx
∂x

x
dy

dx

The variables are defined as follows:


x, y, and z: the cartesian coordinate system
dx, dy, dz: dimensions of the control volume
qx : discharge of water per unit area in the x direction

∂q x
The term dx is the change in unit discharge in the x direction over dx. Not shown on
∂x
the figure are the unit discharges in the y and z directions (qy and qz respectively) and the
associated changes in unit discharges in these directions.

The total volume of the control volume is VT = dxdydz (note: an upper case V will be
used for volume, and a lower case v used for velocity), and the volume of water within
the control volume is Vw = θdxdydz. In the latter, θ is the volumetric water content.
The general mass balance equation can be written
d
0= ∫ ρ w dV + ∫ ρ w v • dA (1)
dt cv cs

where ∫ is the integral over the control volume (which could be written as a triple
cv
integral over three spatial dimensions, ∫∫∫ ), ∫ is the integral over the control surface, ρw is
cs
the density of water, v is the velocity vector, A is the area of the control surface (a vector
quantity), and v●dA is the dot product.

The first term on the right hand side of Equation 1 is the time rate of change of fluid mass
in storage (within the control volume). Since we are dealing with a saturated porous
medium, where the entire pore space is full of water, change in storage within the control
volume occurs due to either expansion/contraction of water due to density changes, and
expansion/compaction of the porous medium. Both of these are caused by changes in
hydraulic head, h, within the control volume. Note that h = z + P/γ, where z is the
elevation head, P is pressure, and γ is the specific weight of water (velocity head is
negligible). Specific storage, Ss, is the amount of water produced per unit decline of h by
both of these mechanisms. Ss is the aquifer storativity, S, divided by the aquifer
thickness, b. The first term can be re-written in terms of these variables
d ∂h
∫ ρ w dV = ρ w S s dxdydz (2)
dt cv ∂t
The second term of Equation 1 represents net outflow from the control volume. Let’s
first only consider the x direction:
Inflow = qxdydz
∂q
Outflow = ( q x + x dx )dydz
∂x
So the net outflow (outflow – inflow) in the x direction is
∂q x ∂q
∫ ρ w v • dA = ρ w ( q x + dx)dydz − ρ w q x dydz = ρ w x dxdydz (3)
cs x ∂x ∂x
This is extended into three dimensions
∂q x ∂q y ∂q
∫ ρ w v • dA = ρ w dxdydz + ρ w dxdydz + ρ w z dxdydz (4)
cs ∂x ∂y ∂z
Now we substitute Equation 4 and Equation 2 into Equation 1and divide through by ρw
and dxdydz
∂h ∂q x ∂q y ∂q z
0 = Ss + + + (5)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z
Darcy’s law is substituted into Equation 5 for the unit discharges. For example, in the x
direction
∂h
qx = −K x (6)
∂x
This substitution results in the three-dimensional equation for transient flow through
anisotropic porous media
∂  ∂h  ∂  ∂h  ∂  ∂h  ∂h
 K x  +  K y  +  K z  = S s (7)
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z  ∂t
For isotropic media, Kx=Ky=Kz=K and Equation 6 is re-written
∂ 2 h ∂ 2 h ∂ 2 h S s ∂h
+ + = (8)
∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2 K ∂t
And for steady flow through isotropic media
∂ 2h ∂ 2h ∂ 2h
+ + =0 (9)
∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
Equation 9 is known as the Laplace Equation. For a horizontal confined aquifer with
thickness b, qz = 0, S = Ssb, and the transmissivity T = Kb, Equation 8 reduces to two
dimensions
∂ 2 h ∂ 2 h S ∂h
+ = (10)
∂x 2 ∂y 2 T ∂t

Equation 10 can be cast in radial coordinates with r = x 2 + y 2

1 ∂  ∂h  ∂ 2 h 1 ∂h S ∂h
r  = + = (11)
r ∂r  ∂r  ∂r 2 r ∂r T ∂t

One-Dimensional Steady Flow Solutions

Confined Aquifers

Ground surface

Top confining layer


h1 h2

Bottom confining layer


x1 x2
For steady flow in one dimension, the equation
∂ 2h
=0 (12)
∂x 2
is solved with the following boundary conditions
h = h1 at x = x1 = 0
h = h2 at x = x2 = xL

to obtain h(x) = h1 – (h1 – h2)(x/xL).

Unconfined Aquifers

Using variables as defined above and Darcy’s law for discharge per unit width of aquifer
∂h
Q = − Kh (13)
∂x
which is solved
Q ∫ xx12 dx = K ∫ hh12 hdh (14)

h12 − h22
Q=K (15)
2( x 2 − x1 )
Equation 15 is known as the Dupuit-Forchheimer discharge formula. Its derivation in
this manner assumes that flow velocity is uniform with z, and the slope of the water table
is small.

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