Numerical model for saturated--unsaturated flow in deformable porous media. I. Theory

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR013i003p00657· OSTI ID:6029253

Narashimhan, T N; Witherspoon, P A

A theory is presented for numerically simulating the movement of water in variably saturated deformable porous media. The theoretical model considers a general three-dimensional field of flow in conjunction with a one-dimensional vertical deformation field. The governing equation expresses the conservation of fluid mass in an elemental volume that has a constant volume of solids. Deformation of the porous medium may be nonelastic. Permeability and the compressibility coefficients may be nonlinearly related to effective stress. Relationships between permeability and saturation with pore water pressure in the unsaturated zone may be characterized by hysteresis. The relation between pore pressure change and effective stress change may be a function of saturation. In the transition zone where pore water pressure is less than atmospheric but greater than air entry value, soil moisture diffusivity as used in soil physics and coefficient of consolidation as used in soil mechanics are shown to be conceptually equivalent. It is believed that this model will be of practical interest in studying saturated--unsaturated systems undergoing simultaneous desaturation and deformation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 6029253
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
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58 GEOSCIENCES
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COMPRESSIBILITY
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
FLUID FLOW
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
HYSTERESIS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
POROUS MATERIALS
SATURATION
SOILS
SOLIDS
STRESSES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VOLUME
WATER