<p>Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy (IAC) is a preferred treatment for the primary liver cancer, despite its adverse side-effects. During IAC, a mixture of chemotherapeutic drugs, e.g. Doxorubicin, is injected into an artery supplying the tumor. A fraction of Doxorubicin is absorbed by the tumor, but the remaining drug passes into systemic circulation, causing irreversible heart failure. The efficiency and safety of the IAC can be improved by chemical filtration of the excessive drugs with a catheter-based Chemofilter device, as proposed by a team of neuroradilogists. </p> <p>The objective of my work was to optimize the hemodynamic and drug binding performance of the Chemofilter device, using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling. For this, I investigated the performance of two distinct Chemofilter configurations: 1) a porous “Chemofilter basket” formed by a lattice of micro-cells and 2) a non-porous “honeycomb Chemofilter” consisting of parallel hexagonal channels. A multiscale modeling approach was developed to resolve the flow through a representative section of the porous membrane and subsequently characterize the overall performance of the device. A heat and mass transfer analogy was utilized to facilitate the comparison of alternative honeycomb configurations. </p> A multiphysics approach was developed for modeling the electrochemical binding of Doxorubicin to the anionic surface of the Chemofilter. An effective diffusion coefficient was derived based on dilute and concentrated solution theory, to account for the induced migration of ions. Computational predictions were supported by results of <i>in-vivo</i> studies performed by collaborators. CFD models showed that the honeycomb Chemofilter is the most advantageous configuration with 66.8% drug elimination and 2.9 mm-Hg pressure drop across the device. Another facet of the Chemofilter project was its surface design with shark-skin inspired texturing, which improves the binding performance by up to 3.5%. Computational modeling enables optimization of the chemofiltration device, thus allowing the increase of drug dose while reducing systemic toxicity of IAC.

L’augmentation de la puissance informatique disponible permet aux ingénieurs et designers d’aborder par simulation des problèmes de plus en plus complexes (multi-physiques, multi-échelles, géométries intriquées ...). Dans ce contexte, les quadratures à base de discrétisation (FDM, FEM, FVM) montrent leur limite : le besoin d’un grand nombre de sous-domaines qui implique des coûts RAM et CPU prohibitifs. La méthode de Monte-Carlo apparaît plus appropriée, mais son utilisation est verrouillée par la difficulté de générer des modèles probabilistes de systèmes complexes. Pour surpasser ceci, une approche systémique est proposée et implémentée pour créer une preuve de concept appliquée à la simulation des transferts thermiques couplés. Après une étape de validation vis-à-vis de solutions analytiques, l’outil est employé; sur des cas d’illustration (transferts thermiques au sein de bâtiments et dans une centrale solaire) pour étudier ses capacités. L’approche mise en œuvre présente un comportement particulièrement avantageux pour la simulation de systèmes complexes : son temps de calcul ne dépend que des parties influentes du problème. De plus, elles sont automatiquement identifiées, même en présence de géométries étendues ou intriquées, ce qui rend les simulations auto-adaptatives. Par ailleurs, ses performances de calcul ne sont pas corrélées avec le rapport d’échelle caractérisant le système simulé. Ceci en fait une approche douée d’une remarquable capacité à traiter les problèmes à la fois multi-physiques et multi-échelles. En parallèle de l’estimation d’une observable par des chemins d’exploration, l’outil analyse également ces derniers de manière statistique. Ceci lui permet de générer un modèle prédictif réduit de l’observable, procurant ainsi une capacité d’auto-apprentissage à la simulation. Son utilisation peut améliorer les processus d’optimisation et de contrôle-commande, ou simplifier les mesures par méthodes inverses. De plus, elle a aussi permis de mener une analyse par propagation d’incertitudes, affectant les conditions aux frontières, vers l’observable. Enfin, une démonstration d’optimisation, utilisant des modèles réduits générés, a été réalisée. / As computing power increases, engineers and designers tackle increasingly complex problems using simulation (multiphysics, multiscale, intricated geometries ...). In this context, discretization-based quadratures (FDM, FEM, FVM) show their limit: the need of a great number of sub-domains which induces prohibitive consumption of RAM and CPU power. The Monte Carlo method appears to be more appropriate, but the difficulty to build probabilistic models of complex systems forms a bottleneck. A systemic approach is proposed to alleviate it and is implemented to create a proof-of-concept dedicated to the coupled heat transfer simulation. After a successful validation step against analytical solutions, this tool is applied to illustrative cases (emulating heat transfer in buildings and in solar heating systems) in order to study its simulation capabilities.This approach presents a major beneficial behavior for complex systems simulation: the computation time only depends on the influential parts of the problem. These parts are automatically identified, even in intricate or extensive geometries, which makes the simulation self-adaptive. In addition, the computational performance and the system scale ratio are completely uncorrelated. Consequently, this approach shows an exceptional capacity to tackle multiphysics and multiscale problems. Each temperature is estimated using exploration paths. By statistically analyzing these paths during the process, the tool is able to generate a reduced predictive model of this physical quantity, which is bringing a self-learning capacity to the simulation. Its use can significantly improve optimization and control of processes, or simplify inverse measurements. Furthermore, based on this model, an uncertainty propagation analysis has been performed. It quantifies the effect of uncertainties affecting boundary conditions on the temperature. Finally a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) process, based on simulations done by the framework, is successfully carried out.

Wood is a complex organic orthotropic viscoelastic material with acellular structure. When stressed, wood will deform over timethrough a process called creep. Creep affects all wooden structureand can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to measure. For this thesis, a simple computer model of the woodenmicrostructure was developed. The hypothesis was that the modelledmicrostructure would display similar elastic and viscoelasticproperties as the macroscopic material. The model was designed by finding research with cell geometries ofconiferous trees measured. The model considered late- and earlywoodgeometries as well as growth rings. Rays were ignored as they onlycomposed 5-10% of the material. By applying a finite element method, the heterogeneous late- andearlywood cells could be homogenized by sequentially loading thestrain vector and calculating the average stress. The computer model produced stiff but acceptable values for theelastic properties. Using the standard linear solid method to modelviscoelasticity, the computer model assembled creep curvescomparable to experimental results. With the model sufficiently validated, parametric studies on thecell geometry showed that the elastic and viscoelastic propertieschanged greatly with cell shape. An unconventional RVE was alsotested and shown to give identical result to the standard RVE. Although not perfect, the model can to a certain degree predict theelastic and viscoelastic characteristics for wood given itscellular geometry. Inaccuracies were thought to be caused byassumptions and approximations when building the model.

Nous proposons d'exploiter la convection thermomagnétique, phénomène caractéristique des Ferro fluides, pour améliorer les transferts de chaleur dans les transformateurs. Les équations régissant le système se composent des équations de Navier-Stokes dans l'approximation de Boussinesq, de l'équation de la conservation de l'énergie et des équations de la magnétostatique. Les simulations sont menées avec notre code de recherche parallélisé SFEMaNS (Spectral/Finite Element for Maxwell and Navier-Stokes) pour des géométries axisymétriques, utilisant une décomposition spectrale dans la direction azimutale et des éléments finis de Lagrange dans le plan méridien. Afin de résoudre ce problème spécifique, divers développements sont apportés à SFEMaNS, tels que l'implémentation des forces magnétiques de Kelvin et de Helmholtz. Le code est d'abord appliqué au refroidissement d'un solénoïde dans une cuve cylindrique contenant de l'huile de transformateur ou un ferrofluide à base d'huile de transformateur. Les résultats montrent que l'utilisation du ferrofluide diminue la température maximale du système grâce à la convection thermomagnétique et au changement des propriétés thermophysiques du fluide. L'influence de différents paramètres (fraction volumique de nanoparticules, présence d'un cœur ferromagnétique, propriétés magnétiques des nanoparticules) est étudiée. En particulier, les simulations confirment l'intérêt des nanoparticules magnétiques à faible température de Curie. Nous montrons également sur cet exemple que deux densités de force magnétique égales à un gradient près, telles que les forces de Kelvin et de Helmholtz, donnent le même écoulement. Un bon accord qualitatif est trouvé entre les résultats numériques et expérimentaux utilisant de l'huile de transformateur ou du ferrofluide. Le code est ensuite appliqué au refroidissement d'un système proche d'un transformateur de 40 kVA (20 kV/400 V). Les résultats montrent à nouveau une réduction de la température maximale grâce au ferrofluide. / We propose to make use of thermomagnetic convection, a characteristic phenomenon of ferrofluids, to improve heat transfer in transformers. The governing equations consist in the Navier-Stokes equations under the Boussinesq approximation, the energy conservation equation and the magnetostatics equations. The simulations are performed with the in-house parallel code SFEMaNS (Spectral/Finite Element for Maxwell and Navier-Stokes) for axisymmetric geometries, using a spectral decomposition in the azimuthal direction and Lagrange finite elements in the meridian plane. In order to solve this specific problem, various developments are brought to SFEMaNS, such as the implementation of the Kelvin and Helmholtz magnetic forces. The code is first applied to the cooling of a coil in a cylindrical tank containing either transformer oil or transformer oil-based ferrofluid. The results show that the use of the ferrofluid reduces the maximum temperature in the system due to thermomagnetic convection and the change of the fluid thermophysical properties. The influence of different parameters (volume fraction of nanoparticles, presence of a ferromagnetic core, nanoparticle magnetic properties) is investigated. In particular, the simulations confirm the benefit of magnetic nanoparticles with a low Curie temperature. We also show on this example that two magnetic body forces equal up to a gradient, such as the Kelvin and Helmholtz forces, give the same flow. A good qualitative agreement is found between the numerical and experimental results using transformer oil or ferrofluid. The code is then applied to the cooling of an electromagnetic system close to a 40 kVA (20 kV/400 V) transformer. The results show again a reduction of the maximum temperature when using ferrofluid.

Compte tenu de l'importance de maintenir une qualité optimale des cordons de soudure et l'impossibilité d'assurer tout risque de manque de pénétration et de fusion par des contrôles non-destructifs, cette thèse permettra de développer une expertise et des outils numériques pour la simulation numérique tridimensionnelle des procédés de soudage par fusion afin de prédire la géométrie finale du cordon. Pour ce faire, on implémente une méthode de suivi d'interface afin d'améliorer la prise en compte des phénomènes thermophysiques au niveau des surfaces libres déformables. Cela permettra en outre de prendre en compte les forces agissant à la surface du bain métallique telles que la tension de surface, la gravité et la pression d'arc. Puis, il est envisagé d'améliorer l'estimation du transfert thermique entre l'arc et les pièces à assembler via un couplage instationnaire des modèles de plasma et de bain de fusion pour ainsi simuler de façon optimale la forme finale du cordon de soudure. Cette thèse permettra de traiter certaines applications industrielles spécifiques à EDF, en particulier les soudures d'étanchéité de faible épaisseur, permettant des études approfondies sur les opérations de réparations par soudage en corniche. / In order to ensure total safety during maintenance operations within nuclear power plants, it is mandatory to preserve the optimal quality of the internal weld beads. To this end, we use Computational Magnetohydrodynamics to simulate adjacent phenomena within the plasma and the weld pool in order to improve the knowledge of welding operating process. One of the difficulties is to take into account the effects induced by the thermal gradient and the variations of surfactant element concentrations on the weld pool surface known as the Marangoni effect. In order to take into account all the physical phenomena at the plasma / weld pool interface, we use an interface tracking method (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian) to improve the simulation of weld pool with free surfaces. Subsequently, it enables to capture more precisely the interfacial forces such as the Marangoni effect, the arc pressure and the gravity, and improve vertical welding simulation. Thus, this work is part of the development of a tridimensional unsteady two-way coupling in order to overcome the Gaussian boundary condition used to model the heat transfer from plasma torch towards the work piece surface. Ultimately, we could obtain an unified model for an optimal welding process simulation.

No description available.

Without lubrication, machines are not imaginable to perform over a long period of time and complete their designated operations. With its omnipresent availability, the air is capable of functioning as a lubricant in long operations very efficiently. Moreover, thrust bearings support axial loads and transmit power at the same time under heavy loads. Therefore, to provide separation under heavy loads in lubricated rotating devices such as thrust pad bearings keeping the power losses at a minimum, film thickness and pressure distribution are very important to investigate at the bearing interfaces. Thrust pad gas (air) bearings are being used in very high-speed rotating machines. Usages of these air bearings are increasing nowadays in industries. In this thesis project, simulations of lubricated contacts of a thrust pad air bearing are performed utilizing multiphysics phenomena and surface textures as mathematical functions. Structural mechanics and fluid mechanics physics are used to model multiphysics functionality. Ideal surface texture models defined by mathematical functions are utilized. More efficient techniques such as homogenization techniques to model the influences of surface roughness are introduced for multiscale study. The current work also presents the Reynolds equation for incompressible and iso-viscous Newtonian fluid flow and formulation for a stationary study. The air bearing with three pads is presented and a virtual twin of this model is built for simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics software. Simulation results are obtained using a single pad from the air bearing considering periodicity of the mathematical formulation. Numerical solutions for pressure build-up and film thickness distributions are achieved from a stationary study performed in COMSOL Multiphysics. MATLAB is used for rigid body solutions. Numerical verification is carried out between the rigid body solutions from MATLAB and fluid physics solutions from COMSOL Multiphysics only for the simulations with tilting pad configuration. Obtained rigid body solutions are also compared to the trends of thrust pad bearing design diagrams to verify the modelling approach and the results. A tilting pad lubricating configuration is used for the thrust pad bearing first. Then pocket geometries for optimization of the bearing pads are explored. For that purpose, separate digital models of the bearing pad are built in COMSOL and analysed for the best performances. Material properties of steel AISI 4340 and Polylactic Acid (PLA) material are used to model virtual bearing pads. To understand the performance of the bearing better, its performance parameters such as load carrying capacity (LCC), relative power loss, and coefficient of friction torque (COT) solutions from the simulations of lubricated contacts of the thrust pad air bearing are analysed. To characterize the performance of the bearing, dimensionless LCC, relative power loss, and COT are explicitly formulated and computed from the pressure and film thickness solutions obtained in the simulations. Relative power loss and COT are resulted from the development of shear stresses in the lubricating fluid due to motion. Parametric analysis is also performed for these parameters in COMSOL Multiphysics. Additionally, performances of several pocket geometry design configurations are also analysed for the best values reached such as the maximum LCC. Pockets with shallower depths are found to have provided higher LCC in general than deeper pocket geometries and plane pads with tilting pad lubricating configuration. Finally, a physical model of an air thrust pad bearing with 3D-printed bearing segments made of PLA material is tested. The physical bearing performed very well in achieving full film separation in the test.

Wave power has been increasing the interest of many researchers looking for alternative sustainable energy sources since the reserves have proved to be capable of satisfying a considerable percentage of the world´s energy demands. This option has not been adopted as a sustainable source since there are some challenges in the process of designing a low cost device that converts the kinetic energy of the waves into electric energy and that could still be efficient enough to be competitive against other options. A new proposal from Anders Hagnestål looks like a very promising way of moving forward in this field. The structure of this newly proposed generator includes neodymium magnets that at temperatures over 60°C might suffer irreversible demagnetization, compromising the normal functioning of the machine. Because of the electrical losses in iron components, overheating is a possibility that must be studied. The aim of this study is to find the temperature distribution of the components that are subject to changing magnetic fields (where the losses will occur). This will be done for a variety of cases regarding environmental and working conditions with the purpose of determining if the generator will need a cooling technique to avoid damage to the magnets. The studied structure consists of a stator and a translator conformed by iron, FR4, glass fiber and, of course, the magnets. The task at hand was carried out first through a one-dimensional analytical model, then through a two-dimensional analytical model and finally by means of simulations on Comsol Multiphysics (Computer-Aided-Engineering software). All of the aforementioned methods implicate assumptions that deviate from reality, but are still useful for the task at hand. Results from the 1D calculation turned out to be unreliable due to the numerous approximations but helped to prove and understand the effect of each of the environmental conditions on the temperature distribution. On the other hand, the 2D calculations and the simulations had a very good agreement which provides some reliability. Furthermore, said results showed that the components might even reach temperatures as high as 380°C under certain conditions. As this number is clearly over the safe limit of the magnets, it was concluded that cooling techniques are needed to ensure the safety of the generator. After some discussion with Hagnestål, cooling methods were proposed. In addition to this, the seemingly most appropriate option was pointed out with the intention of achieving a low-enough temperature and keeping the costs as low as possible. This alternative was a combination of modifying geometric parameters (which would ultimately reduce heat generation) and inducing a low velocity air flow. / Vågkraft är en hittills outnyttjad förnybar energikälla som i framtiden kan tillgodose i storleksordningen 10 % av världens energibehov, om de tekniska utmaningarna kan lösas så att vågkraft kan levereras till konkurrenskraftiga priser. Därmed finns också ett starkt intresse från både akademi och näringsliv att lösa dessa utmaningar. Anders Hagnestål håller på att utveckla en ny linjär generatortyp som enligt beräkningar slår alla befintliga lösningar för effektomvandling för vågkraft med bred marginal. Maskinen har dock komplex geometri, och det är svårt att beräkna dess prestanda. Maskinen innehåller neodymmagneter, vilka kan avmagnetiseras om de blir för varma där 60°C kan ses som en gräns då magneterna börjar påverkas. Om magneterna avmagnetiseras blir maskinen svagare. Eftersom magneterna upphettas av virvelströmmar i magneterna och förluster i omgivande elektroplåt, är det av intresse att göra en termisk analys av maskinen vilket är syftet med detta examensarbete. Målet är att beräkna temperaturutbredningen i maskinens olika delar vid olika driftsfall, och se om man behöver tillföra extern kylning av maskinen för att skydda magneterna. Maskinen består av en translator som omsluter den inre statorn där magneterna är lokaliserade, vilka är byggda av fiberkompositer, elektroplåt, rostfritt stål och neodymmagneter. Beräkningar gjordes först med en endimensionell analytisk modell, därefter med en tvådimensionell analytisk modell och slutligen med numeriska beräkningar i 2D med det kommersiella finita elementmetodberäkningsprogrammet Comsol Multiphysics. Samtliga dessa modeller har avvikelser från det verkliga fallet, men är ändå användbara och ger en fingervisning om hur den termiska situationen för maskinen kan se ut. 1D-beräkningarna visade sig innehålla lite för grova approximationer för att ge pålitliga resultat, men gav en del intuitiv insikt om problemet. Den analytiska 2D-beräkningen stämde bra överens med Comsol-beräkningen, vilket indikerar att beräkningarna är korrekta. Resultaten visade på mycket höga temperaturer i vissa driftsfall utan kylsystem, 380 °C, vilket är en indikator på att antingen någon form av kylning förmodligen behövs, i.a.f. i en del driftsfall, eller att värmeförlusterna i den delen av generatorn behöver minskas genom t.ex. att pollängden ökas. En kombination av luftflöden med låg hastighet och förändrad geometri har föreslagits i examensarbetet för att minska temperaturen.

In this thesis, parametric studies have been performed for a soil-steel compositebridge to determine and investigate the most influential parameters on the dynamicresponse.High-speed railways are currently being planned in Sweden by the Swedish TransportAdministration with train speeds up to 320 km/h. According to the European designcodes, bridges must be verified with respect to dynamic resonance behaviour for trainspeeds exceeding 200 km/h. However, there are no guidelines or design criterion forperforming dynamic verifications of soil-steel composite bridges. The aim of thisthesis has therefore been to investigate the influence of the geometry and materialproperties of soil-steel composite bridges on their dynamic response.This thesis is based upon the frequency domain approach for dynamic analysis ofa soil-steel composite bridge using finite element software. In 2018, field measurementswere performed on a soil-steel composite bridge in Hårestorp, Sweden. Areference finite element model was developed based on previous research and wasverified against these field measurements. Parametric studies where performed byextrapolating the geometry of the reference model, focusing primarily on the crownheight, culvert span width and the location of the bedrock. Sensitivity analyses ofthe density- and stiffness of the soil was also performed.The parametric studies showed that the crown height was the most influential parameterwith respect to the amplitude of the resonance peak. Increasing it from 1 mto 3 m reduced the amplitude by approximately 70 %. An increased span width ofthe culvert was found to reduce the frequency and amplitude of the resonance peak,however increasing the stiffness of the culvert increased the resonance frequency.The position of the rock layer also reduced the amplitude of the resonance peak iflowered, likely because of lessened wave reflection. The lowest rock level investigatedshowed a significant decrease of more than 70 % in amplitude. However, the modelused to calculate this response was heavily extrapolated and thus difficult to verify.The sensitivity analyses showed that the soil density- and stiffness was negativelyand positively correlated with the resonance frequency, respectively. Additionally,the soil density lowered the amplitude of the resonance peak if increased.

Groundwater is one of the main natural resources worldwide. Groundwater exists in aquifers below the earth surface and provides quantities of water for various purposes such as supply to households and businesses, public supply, drinking water supply, irrigation and agriculture. Sweden is also highly dependent on groundwater. As mentioned in the list of 16 Environmental Quality Objectives, that the Swedish Parliament established, "groundwater must assure a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water, as well as promoting viable habitats for plants and animals in lakes and watercourses". However, the protection of groundwater and generally the aquifer resources is prone to various human activities that are harmful in terms of volume and quality. The present thesis aims to investigate the behavior of groundwater towards such human activities of large scales, like a tunnel construction, and small scale, like a construction of a geothermal plant. The area under study is investigated through spatial analysis, using ArcGIS; the groundwater levels are monitored and further statistically analyzed by implementing a Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; and further on a 3D numerical model is built in COMSOL Multiphysics in order to simulate possible drawdown caused by human intervention to the natural environment. The created 3D model was used in order to evaluate the drawdown and different scenarios were implemented with the aim to determine the degree of sensitivity the model has towards fracture parameters. Since the occurrence of fractures in the rock mass is often connected to extended investigation and time/cost consuming techniques, the model contains an overall uncertainty concerning the location and properties of the fracture formations in the area. The different scenarios involve variation of fracture zone width and thus the behavior of the top soil layer is investigated in terms of recovery after drawdown. The results indicated connection to human activities, with the statistical analysis to support this. Also, the numerical model showed that the fracture properties are connected to the recovery time of the groundwater levels after a drawdown is noticed. Wider fracture zone width implied more time needed for the groundwater levels to get to their initial values, under the perception that the source of recharge is precipitation. On the other hand, narrow fracture zone width was connected with greater drawdown, compared to the wider width scenario, and also earlier in time recovery of the groundwater levels. The type of the soil layer and its vulnerability to human activities can vary greatly in terms of volume loss which can prove a hazard to existing infrastructure on the ground surface. The present study can prove useful in cases of prestudy of drilling projects of any scale. There is strong connection between fracture formations and recovery of groundwater levels and thus such kind of models can generate innovative techniques of planning before a project begins. / Grundvatten är en av de viktigaste naturresurserna världen över. Grundvatten finns i akviferer under jordytan och ger vatten för olika ändamål så som tillförsel till hushåll och företag, kommunalt bruk, dricksvattenförsörjning, bevattning och jordbruk. Även Sverige är mycket beroende av grundvatten. I en sammanställning av 16 nationella miljökvalitetsmål fastställde riksdagen bland annat att "grundvatten måste säkerställa ett säkert och hållbart utbud av dricksvatten samt att främja livskraftiga livsmiljöer för växter och djur i sjöar och vattendrag". Skyddet av grundvatten och de allmänna vattenresursresurserna är framtaget för att begränsa påverkan från olika mänskliga aktiviteter som är skadliga när det gäller volym och kvalitet. Föreliggande uppsats syftar till att undersöka grundvattnets beteende till följd av storskaliga mänskliga aktiviteter, till exempel en tunnelkonstruktion, och mindre aktiviteter, till exempel byggnation av en geotermisk anläggning. Det område som studeras undersöks genom rumslig analys, med hjälp av ArcGIS; grundvattennivån övervakas och analyseras vidare statistiskt genom implementering av en statistisk analys av Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; en numerisk 3D-modell byggs i mjukvaran COMSOL Multiphysics för att simulera möjlig grundvattennivåsänkning orsakad av mänsklig påverkan i den naturliga miljön. 3D-modellen användes för att utvärdera eventuell grundvattensänkning och olika scenarier implementerades med syfte att bestämma graden av känslighet med avseende på sprickparameterar i modellen. Eftersom förekomst av sprickor i bergmassan ofta innebär ett behov av utökad undersökning och tid/kostnadskrävande tekniker innehåller modellen en övergripande osäkerhet om platsen samt egenskaper hos sprickorna i området. De olika scenarierna involverar variation av sprickzonsbredd och det övre jordskiktets beteende betraktas i termer av återhämtning efter avsänkt grundvattennivå. Resultaten indikerade koppling till mänskliga aktiviteter, den statistiska analysen stödjer detta. Den numeriska modellen visade också att sprickornas egenskaper är kopplade till grundvattennivåernas återhämtningstid efter det att en grundvattennivåsänkning noterats. Bredare sprickzonsbredd innebar längre återhämtningstid för grundvattennivåerna att stiga till deras ursprungliga värden, under förutsättning att källan till återhämtning är nederbörd. Å andra sidan var en smalare sprickzonsbredd förenad med större grundvattenavsänkning samt snabbare återhämtning av grundvattennivån jämfört med scenariot för bredare sprickzoner. Jordlagrets typ och dess känslighet för påverkan från mänskliga aktiviteter kan variera kraftigt i fråga om volymförlust vilket kan utgöra en fara för befintlig infrastruktur på markytan. Den aktuella studien kan vara användbar i förstudier till borrprojekt av vilken skala som helst. Det finns stark koppling mellan sprickbildning och återhämtning av grundvattennivån, och sålunda denna typ av modeller generera innovativa planeringstekniker innan ett projekt börjar.