Methods of groundwater flow calculations

obligatory courses

Student should have basic knowledge and abilities related to:

- physics, mathematics, hydrology and hydraulics,

- general hydrogeology, applied hydrogeology and physical hydrogeology

- basics of computer science and its applications in the earth sciences,

- geological cartography,

- research methods used in hydrogeology,

- groundwater flow and the rules that govern it.

Calculation methods for groundwater flow are the content of the subject.

These calculations are an essential tool for engineers working in the field of applied geology issues when an important factor shaping the conditions is the groundwater flow. With these issues not only meet hydrogeologists, geologists, but also others, such as dealing with the interaction of surface construction of engineering constructions and the influence of various engineering activities on the environment. As part of this course, students learn about various calculation methods used in such cases - starting from the simplest and ending with complex computer simulations.

The calculations related to groundwater flow are an essential tool for engineers working in the field of applied geology issues when an important factor shaping the conditions is the groundwater flow.

During the lecture, students learn about:

– a conceptual model of a hydrogeological system - spatial aspect such a system and its basic parameters

– factors determining hydrogeological system state,

–physical-mathematical description of groundwater flow expressed as differential equations with the second degree partial derivatives and the necessary additional conditions

– simple analytical solutions of equations of groundwater flow and applying them to practical calculations

–basic concept of the range of construction of flow models

–methodological principles of modeling based on the approximation with the finite-difference method

– description of groundwater flow in half-saturation conditions particularly in an unsaturated zone,

- basic knowledge of transport of substances dissolved in groundwater

During the exercises a student applies in practice some computational methods, in particular:

- makes a spatial model of a hydrogeological system

- carries out calculations using formulas derived from simple analytical solutions

- builds a schematic model of water flow in an aquifer (2D)

- validates the model and its compatibility with a real system

- carries out simulations for different cases

- calculates water balance

- compares the results obtained for different cases

- analyzes the results and draw conclusions from this analysis.

After completing the course (lectures and exercises), a student next to knowledge of groundwater flow calculations, basic knowledge of flow in half-saturation conditions, and transport of dissolved substances will be able to:

- define the necessary dataset for a hydrogeological model

- gather the data according to prepared list

- process the data from a preliminary form to the form required for the model

- make a scheme of the hydrogeological conditions

- carry out a spatial analysis of the hydrogeological system

- carry out calculations using the analytical solution

- build a simple numerical groundwater flow model with application of the necessary software

- verify the correctness of the model and its accuracy with the real system

- carry out simulations of the flow process for different cases

- analyze the results obtained from the simulation

- draw conclusions from the results.

Lecture and classes:

• admissible number of absences: 3

• rules of subject pass: written colloquium including range of topics from the lecture and classes and the reports of specific tasks implemented by students during classes.