Darcy’s data for two different sands

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)

Range in hydraulic conductivity, K
13 orders of magnitude

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)
 Generalization of Darcy’s column

h/L = hydraulic
gradient

Q is proportional
to h/L

q = Q/A

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)

q = Q/A
q is a vector h
qx   Kx
x
z

h
qy   Ky
y
q
qz 2
z h
qz   Kz
x z
x
qx 1

In general: Kz < Kx, Ky

q = - K grad h
h
qx   Kx
x

h
qy   Ky
y

h
qz   Kz
z
Vector Form of Darcy’s Law

q = - K grad h
q = specific discharge (L/T)
K = hydraulic conductivity (L/T)
grad h = hydraulic gradient (L/L)
h = head (L)
 q = - K grad h
q is a vector with 3 components

h is a scalar

K is a tensor with 9 components

(three of which are Kx, Ky, Kz)
Scalar Magnitude Head, concentration,
1 component temperature
Vector Magnitude and Specific discharge, (&
3 components direction velocity), mass flux,
heat flux

Tensor Magnitude, Hydraulic conductivity,

9 components direction and Dispersion coefficient,
magnitude thermal conductivity
changing with
direction
 Darcy’s law

q = - K grad h

q equipotential line

grad h q grad h

Isotropic Anisotropic
Kx = Ky = Kz = K Kx, Ky, Kz
 True flow paths

Linear flow
paths assumed
in Darcy’s law

Specific discharge Average linear velocity

q = Q/A v = Q/An= q/n
n = effective porosity

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)

Representative Elementary Volume
(REV)

REV

q = - K grad h
Equivalent Porous Medium
(epm)
 Law of Mass Balance + Darcy’s Law =
Governing Equation for Groundwater Flow
---------------------------------------------------------------

div q = - Ss (h t) +R* (Law of Mass Balance)

q = - K grad Water (Darcy’s Law)

h balance equation

div (K grad h) = Ss (h t) –R*

 Steady State Water Balance Equation
Inflow = Outflow
Recharge

Discharge

Transient Water Balance Equation

Inflow = Outflow +/- Change in Storage
Outflow - Inflow = Change in Storage
 Storage Terms

h
h

Unconfined aquifer Confined aquifer

Specific yield = Sy Storativity = S
S=V/Ah
S = Ss b
Ss = specific storage
Figures from Hornberger et al. (1998)
 W
OUT – IN =
qx qy qz
(    W ) x y z
x y z
REV

= change in storage

= - V/ t
S=V/Ah
Ss = V / (x y z h) Ss = S/b
here b =  z
V = Ss h (x y z)
t t
 OUT – IN =
qx qy qz
(    W )   Ss h
x y z t
h
qx   Kx
x
h
qy   Ky
y
h
qz   Kz
z

 h  h  h h
( Kx )  ( Ky )  ( Kz )  Ss W
x x y y z z t
 Law of Mass Balance + Darcy’s Law =
Governing Equation for Groundwater Flow
---------------------------------------------------------------

div q = - Ss (h t) +W (Law of Mass Balance)

q = - K grad h (Darcy’s Law)

div (K grad h) = Ss (h t) –W

  h  h  h h
( Kx )  ( Ky )  ( Kz )  Ss W
x x y y z z t

 h  h h
2D confined: (Tx )  (Ty )  S R
x x y y t
(S = Ss b & T = K b)

 h  h h
2D unconfined: (hKx )  (hKy )  Sy R
x x y y t
Figures from:
Hornberger et al., 1998. Elements of Physical Hydrology,
The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, 302 p.