Introduction to Groundwater Modelling COURSE DESCRIPTION ENGG*6740 Fall 2008 Instructor: Douglas M. Joy The goal of this course is to introduce students to the basics of groundwater modelling as it is currently practised. Preliminary topics will include an introduction to current groundwater issues, definition of pertinent terms as well as an introduction to the fundamental equations describing fluid and contaminant transport in the saturated zone. Before proceeding to the use of already existing groundwater models the various mathematical techniques for the solution of the fundamental equations will be introduced and their advantages and shortcomings covered. The course will finish with the application of the models to a variety of situations to illustrate the problems associated with groundwater modelling. Finally, the groundwater models commonly used in industry are covered. It is expected that students taking this course will have an undergraduate degree in engineering or equivalent. Although an undergraduate course in groundwater would be advantageous, it is not necessary. -1-
COURSE OUTLINE (Not in order of coverage. Application of modelling with Visual MODFlow for Windows will be mixed in throughout the semester.) 1. Introduction 1.1 Brief description of course 1.2 Discussion of groundwater issues 1.3 Definition of fundamental terms 1.4 Groundwater Budget 2. Governing Equations 2.1 Flow equation 2.1.1 Basic derivation of 3-D Darcy's law 2.1.2 Discussion of variables and range of validity 2.1.3 Boundary conditions 2.1.4 Applications to basic steady state situations 2.1.5 Dupuit-Forchheimer assumptions 2.1.6 Confined and unconfined applications 2.2 Contaminant Equation 2.2.1 Basic derivation 2.2.2 Discussion of variables and range of typical values 2.2.3 Boundary conditions 2.2.4 Applications to steady flow situations 3. Mathematical Considerations for Solution 3.1 Analytical solution approaches 3.2 Finite difference approaches 3.3 Finite element approaches 3.4 Mathematical representation of boundary conditions 4. Introduction to Groundwater Modelling Code (MODFLOW + ) 4.1 Philosophical approach 4.2 Flow Modelling 4.2.1 Underlying mathematics 4.2.2 Limitations and assumptions 4.2.3 Mode of operation 4.2.4 Simple flow examples 4.3 Contaminant Transport 4.3.1 Underlying mathematics -2-
4.3.2 Limitations and assumptions 4.3.3 Simple examples of contaminant transport 5. Examples 6. Discussion of Commonly used Groundwater models -3-
METHOD OF EVALUATION Assignments (4 or 5 in total): 50% Modelling Project: 50% (includes a presentation) REFERENCE TEXTS Abramowitz, M. and Stegun, I., 1970, Handbook of Mathematical Functions, Dover Publications. Anderson, M., and Woessner, W.W.,1992 Applied Groundwater Modelling: Simulation of Flow and Adjective Transport, Academic Press. Bear, J., 1972, Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media, Dover Publications. Bowen, R., 1986, Groundwater, Elsevier. Chrbeneau, R.J., 2000, Groundwater Hydraulics and Pollutant Transport, Prentice-Hall Delleur, J.W., (ed.), 1998, The Handbook of Groundwater Engineering, CRC Press de Marsily, G., 1986, Quantitative Hydrogeology: Groundwater Hydrology of Engineers, Academic Press. Freeze, R.A. and Cherry, J.A., 1979, Groundwater, Prentice-Hall. Huyakorn, P.S. and Pinder, G.F., 1983, Computational Methods in Subsurface Flow, Academic Press. Istok, J., 1989, Groundwater Modelling by the Finite Element Method, American Geophysical Union. Pinder, G.F. and Gray, W.G., 1977, Finite Element Simulation in Surface and Subsurface Hydrology, Academic Press. Rushton, K. R., 2003. Groundwater flow Mathematical Models. Strack, O.D.L, 1991, Groundwater Mechanics, Prentice-Hall Todd, D.K. and Mays, L. W. 2005, Groundwater Hydrology, 3 rd ed. Wiley. Walton, W.C., 1984, Practical Aspects of Groundwater Modelling, National Water Well Association. Younger, P., 2007, Groundwater in the Environment: an Introduction, Oxford -4-
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