Numerical simulations of non-linear groundwater flow in accreting
sedimentary basins
G. Gambolati, G. Giunta, P. Teatini
Dept. Mathematical Methods and Models for Scientific
Applications, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
ABSTRACT
A non-linear finite element model of groundwater flow and soil compaction is
developed to describe the accretion of isothermal sedimentary basins subject to a
continuous vertical sedimentation process. The increasing load of the overburden
produces a basin compaction driven by 1-D vertical flow which occurs
in a domain with time varying size and is controlled by a
number of parameters dependent on the effective intergranular stress.
The equations take into account the
nonlinearity arising from the subsiding process as well as the solution dependent
hydrogeologic parameters and are solved using both a Eulerian and a Lagrangian
approach. The numerical results are compared with the outcome of the
linear Bredehoeft & Hanshaw [1968] model which neglects
the medium compaction. A preliminary
application to the Quaternary basin underlying the Upper Adriatic Sea is shown
and discussed.
