Groundwater flow equation

The groundwater flow equation is the mathematical relationship which is used to describe the flow of groundwater through a porous medium (e.g., an aquifer). The transient flow of groundwater is described by a form of the diffusion equation, similar to that used in heat transfer to describe the flow of heat in a solid (heat conduction). The steady-state flow of groundwater is described by a form of the Laplace equation, which is a form of potential flow and has analogs in numerous fields.

Related Topics:
Mathematical - Groundwater - Aquifer - Diffusion equation - Heat transfer - Heat conduction - Laplace equation - Potential flow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The groundwater flow equation is often derived for a small representative elemental volume (REV), where the properties of the medium are assumed to be effectively constant. A mass balance is done on the water flowing in and out of this small volume, the flux terms in the relationship being expressed in terms of head by using the constituative equation called Darcy's law.

Related Topics:
Constituative equation - Darcy's law

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~