Semi-analytical numerical simulation for unsteady groundwater flows in anisotropic confined aquifers

Based on the semi-analytical numerical analysis principle and the Galerkin’s method, a trial function, which satisfies groundwater non-flow boundary conditions, is established to describe groundwater drawdown. Finite layer equations for groundwater flows in anisotropic layered confined aquifers are further proposed under non-flow boundary conditions, and a finite layer method is successfully developed for the groundwater flows. Analytical solution and finite difference solution of numerical examples are presented to verify the finite layer method. The applicability of the finite layer method is discussed for solving the groundwater flows in anisotropic layered aquifers, multi-layer aquifers and leaky confined aquifers. The research shows that semi-analytical numerical method is especially suitable for the analysis of groundwater flows in layered confined aquifers and has obvious advantages in the calculation efficiency compared with the traditional numerical methods.