Modelling unsaturated-flow and infiltration

processes using FEFLOW

Dr. Carlos Rivera (cvi@dhigroup.com)

Global Product Specialist – FEFLOW
DHI
Agenda

• Introduction
• Unsaturated-flow modelling
• Live demonstration
• Q/A session

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MIKE Modelling & Simulation

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 With FEFLOW, you can simulate a multitude of
groundwater processes involving flow,
contaminants, groundwater age and heat
transport under fully or variably saturated
conditions.

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 Development History
1979 Birth and first manifestation based on finite-element predecessor program FINEL developed since 1973.

1986 FEFLOW 1: FEFLOW was already able to compute 2D transient groundwater flow and transport.

1992 FEFLOW 3: Commercial development, Motif GUI implementation, FEFLOW became a registered trademark.

2001 FEFLOW 4: 3D Visualization, GIS interfacing, Adaptive meshing, Unsaturated flow, IFM Interface (API)

2012 FEFLOW 6: New Qt-based GUI, data management and architecture based on C++.

2013 FEFLOW 6.2: New Problem Class “Groundwater Age”, FePEST became true.

2015 FEFLOW 7: Support of fully 3D Unstructured meshes, significant improvements in meshing workflows.

2017: FEFLOW 7.1: Dual-node support, coupling 2D surface water (M21FM.)

2018: FEFLOW 7.2: Significant extension to Python interfacing.

2019 FEFLOW 7.3: Cloud-computing support in FePEST.

2020 FEFLOW 7.4: Hydromechanical support, new OpenGL GUI, extended Python API support, meta information.

2021 FEFLOW 7.5: Hydrodynamical support, PEST++, model conceptualization


All-in-one solution
• Full development engine & GUI
• Minimises dependences on
external packages
• One software for all modelling
processes
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FEFLOW’s core values
Save time & boost efficiency
• Import/export industry standard file formats
• Interoperability with 3D geological software
• Smart and fast meshing algorithms
• Friendly programming interface to speed up
workflows
Extensive visualisation
• 2D/3D views, animations and virtual
reality
• Verification of model settings
• Professional result presentation
 With FEFLOW, you can have it all

GET THE RESULTS YOU NEED WITH THE USER EXPERIENCE YOU DEMAND

• Unstructured meshes (2D/3D) • Premium technical support

• Stable and efficient numerical
schemes and methods
• Professional and flexible user
interface
• PEST user interface for automatic
calibration, uncertainty analysis,
predictive analysis and more
• Ongoing professional training through
The ACADEMY
• Free Viewer mode for post-processing
• Free convenient MODFLOW to
FEFLOW conversion tool

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 Get all your questions answered using a single sofware

THERE’S NO NEED FOR DIFFERENT PACKAGES

• From the simple to the complex - • One project = one file

FEFLOW makes it possible! • DHI develops both the engine and
• Multi-scale support: from local to GUI - eliminating dependency on
regional third-party software
• A single user-interface

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 All modelling workflow in one software

SAVE TIME AND BOOST EFFICIENCY

• GIS, CAD and geological model interfacing to define region/areas of interest

• Smart algorithms for meshing in 2D/3D. Discover really 3D unstructured meshes!
• Multiple methods for data regionalization
• Run every problem (flow, mass and heat) within the same interface in parallel
• Full integration with PEST including parallel computing (local, server and cloud)
• Use Monte Carlo methods to quantify uncertainty behind the predictions
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Unsaturated-Flow

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Application Examples

Dam seepage

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Application Examples
Construction of 0 d
underground
storage and
facilities 1080 d

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Application Examples

Efficient dewatering at mine sites

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Physical Aspects of Unsaturated Flow
• Two fluid phases present: water + gas (air)
• Capillary pressure:
pressure difference
between phases gas
water
• Gas phase reduces
conductivity:

blocking of flow paths

by gas phase

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Mathematical Description
Model is described by the Richards equation

Nonlinearity
o Describes the water phase with its constitutive relationships
o Capillary pressure function S(Ψ)
o Relative conductivity Kr(S)
o For saturated conditions, Kr = 1 and S = 1, Richards equation becomes identical to the
groundwater flow equation based on Darcy’s law

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Simplification by Richards‘ Assumption
Assumption:
o Gas phase is infinitely mobile
o Influence of gaseous shear forces are neglected
o Reduction to single phase problem
Benefits:
o Computational efficiency
o Valid for vadose and saturated zone
Not applicable if:
o Gas flow is dominating
(e.g. remediation by soil ventilation)
o Phase transitions occur
(e.g. steam production in nuclear waste site)

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Challenges

...resulting from constitutive relations s() and Kr(s())

o Nonlinearity

o Parametric expressions

o Hysteresis

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Parametric Functions
For constitutive relationships:

Soil-water Retention Relative Conductivity

S Kr

p S
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Parametric Functions
For constitutive relationships:
 Empirical models:

• Van Genuchten
• Brooks&Corey
• Exponential
• Van Genuchten modified
• Haverkamp
• Linear

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Parametric Functions Measurements

For constitutive relationships:

Alternative to empirical models:

 Splines

• Very flexible
• Can strictly honor measured data

Spline model
Empirical model
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Typical Soil Retention Curves

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Typical van Genuchten Model Parameters

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Pedrotransfer Functions for Soil Unsaturated Parameters

Source: Rajka et al. 2004.

Estimating the water retention
curve from soil properties:
comparison of linear, nonlinear
and concomitant variable
methods.

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Upstream Weighting (Spatial Integration of Kr)
Standard approach: Relative conductivity is evaluated at element centroids.

Upstream Weighting: An upstream possition is selected.

Kr is function of nodal saturation (or

pressure). Advantage: Kre is evaluated
only along element edges

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Hysteresis Effects

Scott model

PDewatering

PImbibition

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Seepage Face Boundary Condition
• Atmospheric pressure on the outside
• Outflow direction: gradient-driven outflow
• Inflow direction: no inflow
• Implementation: hydraulic-head BC + fluid-flow constraint:
Boundary condition: h = z
Fluid-flow constraint: Qmax = 0 Q=0 Seepage-face BC
p<0
(unsat. p>0
model)
p=0
Q<0

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Release of FEFLOW 8.0

A major FEFLOW release since 2015.

Release focused on model
conceptualization and significant https://www.theacademybydhi.com/training/webinars

workflows improvements!

Conceptual modelling and new 3D Supermesh Repair New Well Manager editor MIKE Cloud for FEFLOW and FePEST
workflow for 3D model building

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Live Demonstration

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Thank you!
Dr. Carlos Rivera Villarreyes
Global Product Specialist – FEFLOW

E-Mail: cvi@dhigroup.com

Join the FEFLOW community:

https://ocean.dhigroup.com/sign-up-for-dhi-group-newsletters/

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