Analytical Groundwater Mechanics

Groundwater mechanics is the study of fluid flow in porous media. Focusing on applications and case studies, this book explains the basic principles of groundwater flow using mathematical expressions to describe a wide range of different aquifer configurations. Emphasis is placed throughout on the importance of developing simplified models that can be solved analytically to provide insight into complex groundwater flow scenarios and to allow better interpretation of the full numerical solution. Focusing first on identifying the important features of a problem, the book explains how to translate practical questions into mathematical form and discusses the interpretation of the results. Illustrated with numerous real-world examples and graphical results, this is an ideal textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate Earth science, geological engineering, and environmental engineering courses, as well as a useful reference for researchers and professionals.

Preface; 1. Basic equations; 2. Steady flow in a single aquifer; 3. Steady interface flow; 4. Two-dimensional flow in the vertical plane; 5. Steady flow in leaky aquifer systems; 6. Three-dimensional flow; 7. Transient flow; 8. Complex variable methods; 9. Fluid particle paths and solute transport; 10. Finite differences and finite elements; Appendix A. Sinusoidal tidal fluctuation; Appendix B. Numerical integration of the Cauchy integral; References; Index.

Otto D. L. Strack is Professor of Civil Engineering and Geomechanics at the University of Minnesota. With almost fifty years' experience, he is an expert in groundwater mechanics with a particular interest in regional modeling of groundwater flow and transport; and he is the original developer of the Analytic Element method. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the Minnesota Groundwater Association, and is a correspondent of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. He has published widely in the field, including the successful textbook Groundwater Mechanics (1989).