Validation of a Physical and Numerical Model to Solve Problems of Seepage Flow

Abstract

The coefficient of permeability (k value) is an important parameter in civil engineering practice, in hydrology and hydrogeology. It can be determined by field test or by means of laboratory testing. The goal of this paper is to assess this parameter by creating a laboratory model and by validating its results using finite element computer code. The model tests provide that can be applied for estimating permeability of different soils. In a physical model medium-grained sand was tested in the laboratory, for understanding the effects of different flow rates on the validation of the measurement result, the numerical simulation of the physical model was constructed using FEFLOW. Two model variants were developed and both variants were calibrated and validated. Subsequently, the results were converted to real variables based on the model laws. The physical model provides the flow rate of the well in medium-grained sand with sufficient accuracy if the real size of the drawdown is between 0,5 and 1,7 m.