Coupled Finite-Volume Model for 2D Surface and 3D Subsurface Flows
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13, Issue 9
Abstract
Surface-subsurface interactions are an intrinsic component of the hydrologic response within a watershed; therefore, hydrologic modeling tools should consider these interactions to provide reliable predictions, especially during rainfall-runoff processes. This paper presents a fully implicit coupled model designed for hydrologic evaluation in wetlands, agricultural fields, etc. The model uses the depth-averaged two-dimensional (2D) diffusion wave equation for shallow surface water flow, and the three-dimensional (3D) mixed-form Richards equation for variably saturated subsurface flow. The interactions between surface and subsurface flows are considered via infiltration in dynamic equilibrium. A general framework for coupling the surface and subsurface flow equations is adopted, based on the continuity conditions of pressure head and exchange flux rather than the traditional conductance concept. The diffusion wave surface water equation is used as an upper boundary condition for the initial-boundary value problem of variably saturated subsurface flow. The coupled system of equations governing surface and subsurface flows is discretized using the finite-volume method in space and an implicit scheme in time. Component modules and the coupled flow model have been tested by comparing numerical results with published experimental data and analytical solutions. The verified integrated flow model has been applied to simulate the rainfall-runoff processes in a published field-scale experiment and the Deep Hollow Lake watershed, Mississippi. The results have demonstrated that the established numerical model is capable of simulating 3D subsurface flow and 2D surface shallow water flow as well as predicting the interactions between them.
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Acknowledgments
This study is supported by the University of Mississippi and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Dr. Mustafa Altinakar, Dr. Alex Cheng, Dr. Gregg Davidson, Dr. Garey Fox, Dr. Marjorie M. Holland, Dr. Alfred T. Mikell, and Dr. Clint W. Williford in the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Water Resources/Water Quality/Aquatic Ecosystems at the University of Mississippi are acknowledged for their support. We grateful thank Dr. VanderKwaak for providing data of Abdul’s (1985) field experiments and Dr. Yongping Yuan and Dr. Gregg Davidson for providing data for the Deep Hollow Lake watershed case.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13 • Issue 9 • September 2008
Pages: 835 - 845
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 14, 2007
Accepted: Oct 17, 2007
Published online: Sep 1, 2008
Published in print: Sep 2008
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