An Analytic Element Solution to Unconfined Flow near Partially Penetrating Wells

An analytic element solution for steady-state unconfined flow near one or more partially penetrating wells in an ambient flow field has been developed. The phreatic surface is modeled using a three-dimensional version of the Zhukovskic function. Boundary conditions at control points on the phraetic surface and seepage face at the well are maintained by use of distributed singularities outside the flow domain. The phraetic surface and seepage face for a single well is compared with two different numerical solutions and a laboratory experiment found in the literature. A sample case showing flow near two wells in an ambient flow field is presented. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.