Finite element modelling of interaction between surface and Darcy flow regimes through soils

The present work deals with the impact of surface flow on hydrodynamic conditions in saturated underground domains. A three dimensional finite element analysis of water flow has been used to obtain the required simulations. The results clearly show the effects of the surface flow on the hydrodynamic conditions of the subsurface porous regions. This analysis is an important prerequisite for the prediction of contaminant mobility in soils and hence provides a convenient tool for the prediction of environmentally important subsurface flow processes. For low permeability cases, considered here, governing equations consist of water continuity and Darcy equations. These equations are solved using a robust and reliable finite element procedure