ON THE VARIABLE MESH FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF UNCONFINED SEEPAGE PROBLEMS

Some drawbacks affecting the variable mesh finite element soltion of unconfined flow problems are discussed and a procedure is suggested aimed at avoiding them in steady state and transient analyses. In particular, it is shown that the results of standard algorithms often used in practice may present spurious oscillations of the phreatic surface in the vicinity of the intersection with a pervious boundary exposed to the atmosphere. They may become exceedingly large when a limited number of elements is adopted in the mesh, and in some cases lead to non-correct final (steady state) configurations of the free surface. In order to eliminate this negative effect from the finite element analysis, a simple criterion is suggested based on an algorithm for non-linear function minimization. Some applications of this technique are presented to 2- and 3-dimensional unconfined problems.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00168505
• Corporate Authors:

  Thomas Telford Limited

  London,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Cividini, A
  • Gioda, G
• Publication Date: 1989-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 251-267
• Serial:
  • GEOTECHNIQUE
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Thomas Telford Limited
  • ISSN: 0016-8505

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Finite element method; Seepage; Steady state
• Old TRIS Terms: Unconfined flow
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00486382
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1989 12:00AM