[en] Recession flow of aquifers from a hillslope can be described by the non-linear Boussinesq equation. Under strong assumptions and for specific conceptual formulations, different authors derived analytical approximations or linearized versions to this partial differential equation. A comparative analysis between some analytical approximations of the Boussinesq equation and the numerical solution of the recession flow of an unconfined homogeneous aquifer (horizontal, inclined and concave aquifer floor) was carried out. The objective was to define the range where the analytical solutions approximate the numerical solution. The latter was considered in this study as the reference method, because it requires fewer assumptions. From the considered analytical approximations, exponential decay relationships were found to be mainly valid for fine domain materials when horizontal, mild slopes (less than 2%) and concave aquifer floors were considered, but failed to reproduce coarse aquifer numerical model outflows, in contrast to the quadratic decay relationship, which better reproduce outflows in such domains. On the basis of the comparative analysis, it has been found that recession flows obtained with the considered analytical approximations yield similar values only for certain ranges of aquifer properties and geometries.
Research center :
Aquapôle - ULiège
Disciplines :
Geological, petroleum & mining engineering
Author, co-author :
Rocha, David; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL > Geologie-Geografie > Hydrogeologie en Ingenieursgeologie
Feyen, Jan; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL > Department of Land Management and Economics > Division Soil and Water
Dassargues, Alain ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Comparative analysis between analytical approximations and numerical solutions describing recession flow in unconfined hillslope aquifers
Publication date :
2007
Journal title :
Hydrogeology Journal
ISSN :
1431-2174
Publisher :
Springer Science & Business Media B.V., New York, United States - New York
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