A spectral modelling approach for fluid flow into a line sink in a confined aquifer

A spectral method is developed to study the steady and unsteady flow of fluid into a line sink from a horizontally confined aquifer, and the results are compared to solutions obtained implementing the finite element package COMSOLTM. The aquifer or drain is considered to be confined below so that the solutions are fundamentally unsteady. Comparison is made between the two methods in determining the drawdown of the surface.

Flow from a source above a sloping base

We consider the outflow of water from the peak of a triangular ridge into a channel of finite depth. Solutions are computed for different flow rates and bottom angles. A numerical method is used to compute the flow from the source for small values of flow rate and it is found that there is a maximum flow rate beyond which steady solutions do not seem to exist. Limiting flows are computed for each geometrical configuration. One application of this work is as a model of saline water being returned to the ocean after desalination. References Craya, A. ''Theoretical research on the flow of nonhomogeneous fluids''. La Houille Blanche, (1):22–55, 1949. doi:10.1051/lhb/1949017 Dun, C. R. and Hocking, G. C. ''Withdrawal of fluid through a line sink beneath a free surface above a sloping boundary''. J. Eng. Math. 29:1–10, 1995. doi:10.1007/bf00046379 Hocking, G. ''Cusp-like free-surface flows due to a submerged source or sink in the presence of a flat or sloping bottom''. ANZIAM J. 26:470–486, 1985. doi:10.1017/s0334270000004665 Hocking, G. C. and Forbes, L. K. ''Subcritical free-surface flow caused by a line source in a fluid of finite depth''. J. Eng. Math. 26:455-466, 1992. doi:10.1007/bf00042763 Hocking, G. C. ''Supercritical withdrawal from a two-layer fluid through a line sink", J. Fluid Mech. 297:37–47, 1995. doi:10.1017/s0022112095002990 Hocking, G. C., Nguyen, H. H. N., Forbes, L. K. and Stokes,T. E. ''The effect of surface tension on free surface flow induced by a point sink''. ANZIAM J., 57:417–428, 2016. doi:10.1017/S1446181116000018 Landrini, M. and Tyvand, P. A. ''Generation of water waves and bores by impulsive bottom flux'', J. Eng. Math. 39(1–4):131-170, 2001. doi:10.1023/A:1004857624937 Lustri, C. J., McCue, S. W. and Chapman, S. J. ''Exponential asymptotics of free surface flow due to a line source''. IMA J. Appl. Math., 78(4):697–713, 2013. doi:10.1093/imamat/hxt016 Stokes, T. E., Hocking, G. C. and Forbes, L.K. ''Unsteady free surface flow induced by a line sink in a fluid of finite depth'', Comp. Fluids, 37(3):236–249, 2008. doi:10.1016/j.compfluid.2007.06.002 Tuck, E. O. and Vanden-Broeck, J.-M. ''A cusp-like free-surface flow due to a submerged source or sink''. ANZIAM J. 25:443–450, 1984. doi:10.1017/s0334270000004197 Vanden-Broeck, J.-M., Schwartz, L. W. and Tuck, E. O. ''Divergent low-Froude-number series expansion of nonlinear free-surface flow problems". Proc. Roy. Soc. A., 361(1705):207–224, 1978. doi:10.1098/rspa.1978.0099 Vanden-Broeck, J.-M. and Keller, J. B. ''Free surface flow due to a sink'', J. Fluid Mech, 175:109–117, 1987. doi:10.1017/s0022112087000314 Yih, C.-S. Stratified flows. Academic Press, New York, 1980. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-771050-1.X5001-3

Critical surface coning due to a line sink in a vertical drain containing a porous medium

The withdrawal of water with a free surface through a line sink from a two-dimensional, vertical sand column is considered using the hodograph method and a novel spectral method. Hodograph solutions are presented for slow flow and for critical, limiting steady flows, and these are compared with spectral solutions to the steady problem. The spectral method is then extended to obtain unsteady solutions and hence the evolution of the phreatic surface to the steady solutions when they exist. It is found that for each height of the interface there is a unique critical coning value of flow rate, but also that the value obtained is dependent on the flow history. doi:10.1017/S1446181119000099

CRITICAL SURFACE CONING DUE TO A LINE SINK IN A VERTICAL DRAIN CONTAINING A POROUS MEDIUM

The withdrawal of water with a free surface through a line sink from a two-dimensional, vertical sand column is considered using the hodograph method and a novel spectral method. Hodograph solutions are presented for slow flow and for critical, limiting steady flows, and these are compared with spectral solutions to the steady problem. The spectral method is then extended to obtain unsteady solutions and hence the evolution of the phreatic surface to the steady solutions when they exist. It is found that for each height of the interface there is a unique critical coning value of flow rate, but also that the value obtained is dependent on the flow history.

A line sink in a flowing stream with surface tension effects

We examine a problem in which a line sink causes a disturbance to an otherwise uniform flowing stream of infinite depth. We consider the fully non-linear problem with the inclusion of surface tension and find the maximum sink strength at which steady solutions exist for a given stream flow, before examining non-unique solutions. The addition of surface tension allows for a more thorough investigation into the characteristics of the solutions. The breakdown of steady solutions with surface tension appears to be caused by a curvature singularity as the flow rate approaches the maximum. The non-uniqueness in solutions is shown to occur for a range of parameter values in all cases with non-zero surface tension.

Closed-Form Solutions of the Elastic Half Space due to a Line Heat Source

Thermoelastic response due to a line heat source is analog to poroelastic reaction caused by a fluid line sink. In this study, the strata are modeled as a thermoelastic or poroelastic half space bounded by horizontal surface in the mathematical model. Thermomechanics and poromechanics are applied on the formulation of basic governing equations, and an analogy is drawn to show the similarity. Using Hankel transform technique and approaching symbolic integral through Mathematica, the closed-form solutions of the horizontal and vertical displacements due to a fluid line sink are obtained. The displacements produced by the line heat source are described through analog quantities between thermoelasticity and poroelasticity. The solutions can be applied to dewater operations and build waste repository.

Elastic Solutions for a Saturated Isotropic Half Space Subjected to a Fluid Line Sink

The study derives the closed-form solutions of the long-term elastic consolidation subjected to the fluid line sink in a homogeneous isotropic elastic half space aquifer. The Hankel transform in a cylindrical coordinate system is employed to develop the analytical elastic solutions. Derivations of governing equations are based on the mathematical model of Biots theory of poro-mechanics, and the half space aquifer is modelled as a saturated porous stratum which is bounded by a horizontal surface. The total stresses of the aquifer obey Newtons second law and Hookes law. Besides, the mass conservation and Darcys law are introduced to formulate the governing equations of pore fluid flow. The software Mathematica is used to complete the symbolic integrations and obtain the closed-form solutions. The solutions can be applied in dewatering operations of compressible aquifer.

Stokes Flow between Two Cylinders

The two-dimensional slow viscous fluid motion between two co-axial circular cylinders showed the inner cylinder is shear-free and the outer one is rigid. The flow is due to the presence of a line source and a line sink of equal strength on the outer cylinder. The stream function for the flow in the annular region is established. The hydrodynamic force on the inner shear-free cylinder has been evaluated. Some numerical values for the force have been presented in a table and compared with corresponding known values where both inner and outer cylinders are rigid. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v36i1.10928 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 1, 123-135, 2012