In this study, piezometric heads in a composite aquifer composed of an alluvial deposit having a width adjacent to a semi-infinite fractured rock are determined. One dimensional transient flow induced by a constant discharge pumping rate from a stream intersecting alluvial part of the aquifer is considered. Parts of the aquifer are homogeneous andisotropic. Equations of flow, initial and boundary conditions are converted to dimensionless forms for graphical presentation and the interpretation of results independent of discharge and head inputs specific to the problem. Equations are solved first in Laplace domain and Laplace domain solutions are inverted numerically to real time domain by utilizing Stehfest algorithm.For this purpose, a set of subroutines in VBA Excel are developed. This procedure is verified by application of code to flow in semi-infinite homogeneous aquifer under constant discharge for which analytical solution is available in literature. VBA codes are also developed for two special cases of finite aquifer with impervious and with recharge boundary on the right hand side. Results of composite aquifer solutions with extreme tranmissivity values are compared with these two cases for verification of methodology and sensivity of results.

O ensaio de palheta de campo em material siltoso levanta problemáticas relacionadas à sua execução e à interpretação dos resultados. O presente trabalho apresenta uma modelagem em poroelasticidade do ensaio de palheta. O modelo de ensaio é definido pelo problema de rotação de um cilindro infinito em um solo poroso. A solução do problema é buscada adotando um comportamento poroelástico não linear fictício tal que a resposta é localmente equivalente àquela do comportamento plástico perfeito. O modelo considera que a rotação do cilindro gera deformações volumétricas não desprezíveis e que a solução fechada de poropressão é garantida por um módulo de cisalhamento equivalente. As soluções do campo de tensões e deformações descritas por equações analíticas são obtidas numericamente por meio do método de diferenças finitas. O modelo é avaliado através de uma comparação com os resultados de simulação em elementos finitos e de solução do modelo com o uso de software de álgebra computacional. Os critérios de Tresca e de Drucker-Prager são considerados nas avaliações. As condições de drenagem foram estudadas através da curva característica de drenagem no espação grau de drenagem U versus velocidade normalizada V. A influência da rigidez e da resistência do material sobre o fenômeno de dissipação foram interpretados no mesmo espaço U ×V . Também foi demonstrado que a dissipação é sensível à definição da zona de influência. O parâmetro numérico de discretização do domínio para o método de diferenças finitas para a obtenção de resultados de boa precisão foi identificado. O modelo foi aplicado para a modelagem do ensaio de palheta em resíduo de zinco e para a interpretação dos resultados desse ensaio. Demonstrou-se que o modelo proposto permite a identificações dos padrões de ensaio que garantem os comportamentos desejados, além de possibilitar o estudo da sensibilidade do processo de dissipação em relação à rigidez e resistência do material. / The Field Vane Test in silty materials raises problematics related to its execution and interpretation of results. The work presents a model for the vane test based on poroelasticity. The modeling of the test is characterized by the problem of the rotation of an infinite cylinder in a porous soil. The solution of the problem is sought by adopting a fictitious non-linear poroelastic behavior such that the answer is locally equivalent to the one corresponding to a perfect plastic behavior. The revised model assumes that rotation of the cylinder does generate volumetric deformation which one is not negligible and the close form of solution for pore pressure is guaranteed by an equivalent shear modulus. The solutions of stresses and displacement field are obtained numerically using the finite difference method. The model is evaluated for materials characterized by two criteria Tresca and Drucker-Prager through a comparison of results obtained by simulation in finite element model and by simulation using computer algebra software. The drainage conditions have been studied through the drainage characteristic curve U ×V . The influence of the stiffness and strength of the material on the dissipation phenomena were interpreted in the same space U ×V . It was also demonstrated that the dissipation process is sensitive to the definition of the influence zone. The numerical parameters to obtain good precision results were identified. The model was applied to the modeling Vane Test in zinc residue and the interpretation of experimental results. It has been shown that the proposed model allows the identification of test patterns that ensures the desired drainage behavior and allows the study of the sensitivity of the dissipation process for stiffness and strength of the material.

O ensaio de palheta de campo em material siltoso levanta problemáticas relacionadas à sua execução e à interpretação dos resultados. O presente trabalho apresenta uma modelagem em poroelasticidade do ensaio de palheta. O modelo de ensaio é definido pelo problema de rotação de um cilindro infinito em um solo poroso. A solução do problema é buscada adotando um comportamento poroelástico não linear fictício tal que a resposta é localmente equivalente àquela do comportamento plástico perfeito. O modelo considera que a rotação do cilindro gera deformações volumétricas não desprezíveis e que a solução fechada de poropressão é garantida por um módulo de cisalhamento equivalente. As soluções do campo de tensões e deformações descritas por equações analíticas são obtidas numericamente por meio do método de diferenças finitas. O modelo é avaliado através de uma comparação com os resultados de simulação em elementos finitos e de solução do modelo com o uso de software de álgebra computacional. Os critérios de Tresca e de Drucker-Prager são considerados nas avaliações. As condições de drenagem foram estudadas através da curva característica de drenagem no espação grau de drenagem U versus velocidade normalizada V. A influência da rigidez e da resistência do material sobre o fenômeno de dissipação foram interpretados no mesmo espaço U ×V . Também foi demonstrado que a dissipação é sensível à definição da zona de influência. O parâmetro numérico de discretização do domínio para o método de diferenças finitas para a obtenção de resultados de boa precisão foi identificado. O modelo foi aplicado para a modelagem do ensaio de palheta em resíduo de zinco e para a interpretação dos resultados desse ensaio. Demonstrou-se que o modelo proposto permite a identificações dos padrões de ensaio que garantem os comportamentos desejados, além de possibilitar o estudo da sensibilidade do processo de dissipação em relação à rigidez e resistência do material. / The Field Vane Test in silty materials raises problematics related to its execution and interpretation of results. The work presents a model for the vane test based on poroelasticity. The modeling of the test is characterized by the problem of the rotation of an infinite cylinder in a porous soil. The solution of the problem is sought by adopting a fictitious non-linear poroelastic behavior such that the answer is locally equivalent to the one corresponding to a perfect plastic behavior. The revised model assumes that rotation of the cylinder does generate volumetric deformation which one is not negligible and the close form of solution for pore pressure is guaranteed by an equivalent shear modulus. The solutions of stresses and displacement field are obtained numerically using the finite difference method. The model is evaluated for materials characterized by two criteria Tresca and Drucker-Prager through a comparison of results obtained by simulation in finite element model and by simulation using computer algebra software. The drainage conditions have been studied through the drainage characteristic curve U ×V . The influence of the stiffness and strength of the material on the dissipation phenomena were interpreted in the same space U ×V . It was also demonstrated that the dissipation process is sensitive to the definition of the influence zone. The numerical parameters to obtain good precision results were identified. The model was applied to the modeling Vane Test in zinc residue and the interpretation of experimental results. It has been shown that the proposed model allows the identification of test patterns that ensures the desired drainage behavior and allows the study of the sensitivity of the dissipation process for stiffness and strength of the material.

The acquisition of representative subsea fluid sampling from offshore field development asset is crucial for the correct evaluation of oil reserves and for the design of subsea production facilities. Due to rising operational expenditures, operators and manufacturers have been working hard to provide systems to enable cost effective subsea fluid sampling solutions. To achieve this, any system has to collect sufficient sample volumes to ensure statistically valid characterisation of the sampled fluids. In executing the research project, various subsea sampling methods used in the offshore industry were examined and ranked using multi criteria decision making; a solution using a remote operated vehicle was selected as the preferred method, to compliment the subsea multiphase flowmeter capability, used to provide well diagnostics to measure individual phases – oil, gas, and water. A mechanistic (compositional fluid tracking) model is employed, using the fluid properties that are equivalent to the production flow stream being measured, to predict reliable reservoir fluid characteristics on the subsea production system. This is applicable even under conditions where significant variations in the reservoir fluid composition occur in transient production operations. The model also adds value in the decision to employ subsea processing in managing water breakthrough as the field matures. This can be achieved through efficient processing of the fluid with separation and boosting delivered to the topside facilities or for water re-injection to the reservoir. The combination of multiphase flowmeter, remote operated vehicle deployed fluid sampling and the mechanistic model provides a balanced approach to reservoir performance monitoring. Therefore, regular and systematic field tailored application of subsea fluid sampling should provide detailed understanding on formation fluid, a basis for accurate prediction of reservoir fluid characteristic, to maximize well production in offshore field development.

[ES] El análisis de los fenómenos transitorios durante las operaciones de llenado en conducciones de agua ha sido estudiado de manera detallada comparado con las maniobras de vaciado. En este último se encontró que no existen modelos matemáticos capaces de predecir el fenómeno. Esta investigación inicia estudiando el fenómeno transitorio generado durante el vaciado en una tubería simple, como paso previo para entender el comportamiento de las variables hidráulicas y termodinámicas durante el vaciado de agua en conducciones presurizadas de perfil irregular. Los análisis son realizados considerando dos situaciones: (i) la situación No. 1 corresponde al caso donde no hay válvulas de aire instaladas o cuando éstas han fallado por problemas operacionales o de mantenimiento, que representa la condición más desfavorable con respecto a la depresión máxima alcanzada; y (ii) la situación No. 2 corresponde al caso en donde se han instalado válvulas de aire en los puntos más elevados de la conducción para dar fiabilidad mediante el aire introducido al sistema previniendo de esta manera la depresión máxima. En esta tesis doctoral se ha desarrollado un modelo matemático para predecir el comportamiento de las operaciones de vaciado. El modelo matemático es propuesto para las dos situaciones mencionadas anteriormente. La fase líquida (agua) es simulada con un modelo de columna rígida, en el cual se desprecia la elasticidad del agua y de la tubería debido a que la elasticidad del aire es mucho mayor que estas; y la interfaz aire-agua es modelada con un modelo de flujo pistón, el cual asume que la columna de agua es perpendicular a la dirección principal del flujo. La fase de aire es modelada usando tres ecuaciones: (a) un modelo politrópico basado en el comportamiento energético, que considera la expansión de las bolsas de aire; (b) la formulación de las válvulas de aire para cuantificar la magnitud del caudal de aire admitido; y (c) la ecuación de continuidad de la bolsa de aire. Un sistema ordinario de ecuaciones diferenciales es solucionado utilizando la herramienta de Simulink de Matlab. El modelo matemático es validado empleando bancos experimentales localizados en los laboratorios de hidráulica de la Universitat Politècnica de València (Valencia, España) y en el Instituto Superior Técnico de la Universidad de Lisboa (Lisboa, Portugal). Los resultados muestran que el modelo matemático predice adecuadamente los datos experimentales de las presiones de las bolsas de aire, las velocidades del agua y las longitudes de las columnas de agua. Finalmente, el modelo matemático es aplicado a un caso de estudio para mostrar su aplicabilidad a situaciones prácticas, con el fin de poder ser empleado por ingenieros para estudiar el fenómeno en conducciones reales y así tomar decisiones acerca de la planificación de esta operación. / [CAT] L'anàlisi dels fenòmens transitoris durant les operacions d'ompliment en conduccions d'aigua ha sigut estudiat de manera detallada comparat amb les maniobres de buidatge. En este últim es va trobar que no hi ha models matemàtics capaços de predir el fenomen. Esta investigació inicia estudiant el fenomen transitori generat durant el buidatge en una canonada simple, com a pas previ per a entendre el comportament de les variables hidràuliques i termodinàmiques durant el buidatge d'aigua en conduccions pressuritzades de perfil irregular. Les anàlisis són realitzats considerant dos situacions: (i) la situació No. 1 correspon al cas on no hi ha vàlvules d'aire instal·lades o quan estes han fallat per problemes operacionals o de manteniment, que representa la condició més desfavorable respecte a la depressió màxima aconseguida; i (ii) la situació No. 2 correspon al cas on s'han instal·lat vàlvules d'aire en els punts més elevats de la conducció per a donar fiabilitat per mitjà de l'aire introduït al sistema prevenint d'esta manera la depressió màxima. En esta tesi doctoral s'ha desenrotllat un model matemàtic per a predir el comportament de les operacions de buidatge. El model matemàtic és proposat per a les dos situacions mencionades anteriorment. La fase líquida (aigua) és simulada amb un model de columna rígida, en el qual es desprecia l'elasticitat de l'aigua i de la canonada pel fet que l'elasticitat de l'aire és molt major que estes; i la interfície aire-aigua és modelada amb un model de flux pistó, el qual assumix que la columna d'aigua és perpendicular a la direcció principal del flux. La fase d'aire és modelada usant tres equacions: (a) un model politròpic basat en el comportament energètic, que considera l'expansió de les bosses d'aire; (b) la formulació de les vàlvules d'aire per a quantificar la magnitud del cabal d'aire admés; i (c) l'equació de continuïtat de la bossa d'aire. Un sistema ordinari d'equacions diferencials és solucionat utilitzant la ferramenta de Simulink de Matlab. El model matemàtic és validat emprant bancs experimentals localitzats en els laboratoris d'hidràulica de la Universitat Politècnica de València (València, Espanya) i en l'Institut Superior Tècnic de la Universitat de Lisboa (Lisboa, Portugal). Els resultats mostren que el model matemàtic prediu adequadament les dades experimentals de les pressions de les bosses d'aire, les velocitats de l'aigua i les longituds de les columnes d'aigua. Finalment, el model matemàtic és aplicat a un cas d'estudi per a mostrar la seua aplicabilitat a situacions pràctiques, a fi de poder ser empleat per enginyers per a estudiar el fenomen en conduccions reals i així prendre decisions sobre la planificació d'esta operació. / [EN] The analysis of transient phenomena during water filling operations in pipelines of irregular profiles has been studied much more compared to emptying maneuvers. In the literature, there is a lack of knowledge about mathematical models of emptying operations. This research starts with the analysis of a transient phenomenon during emptying maneuvers in single pipelines, which is a previous stage to understand the emptying operation in pipelines of irregular profiles. Analysis are conducted under two typical situations: (i) one corresponding to either the situation where there are no air valves installed or when they have failed due to operational and maintenance problems which represents the worse condition due to causing the lowest troughs of subatmospheric pressure, and (ii) the other one corresponding to the situation where air valves have been installed at the highest point of hydraulic installations to give reliability by admitting air into the pipelines for preventing troughs of subatmospheric pressure. Particularly, this research developed a mathematical model to predict the behavior of the emptying operations. The mathematical model is proposed for the two aforementioned situations. The liquid phase (water) is simulated using a rigid water column model (RWCM), which neglects the pipe and water elasticity given that the elasticity of the entrapped air pockets is much higher than the one from the pipe and the water. The air-water interface is simulated with a piston flow model assuming that the water column is perpendicular with the main direction of the flow. Gas phase is modeled using three formulations: (a) a polytropic model based on its energetic behavior, which considers an expansion of air pockets; (b) an air valve characterization to quantify the magnitude of admitted air flow; and (c) a continuity equation of the air. An ordinary differential equations system is solved using the Simulink tool of Matlab. The proposed model has been validated using experimental facilities at the hydraulic laboratories of the Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain, and the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. The results show how the mathematical model adequately predicts the experimental data, including the pressure oscillation patterns, the water velocities, and the lengths of the water columns. Finally, the mathematical model is applied to a case study to show a practical application, which can be used for engineers to study the phenomenon in real pipelines to make decisions about performing of the emptying operation. / Coronado Hernández, ÓE. (2019). Transient phenomena during the emptying process of water in pressurized pipelines [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/120024 / TESIS

A 2-D Air Augmented Rocket, the Cal Poly Air Augmented Rocket (CPAAR) Test Apparatus operating as a mixer-ejector was tested to investigate high stagnation pressure ratio and transient flow fields of an ejector. The primary rocket ejector was supplied with high pressure nitrogen at a maximum chamber pressure of 1758 psia and a maximum mass flow rate of 1.4 lb/s. The secondary flow air was entrained from a fixed volume plenum chamber producing pressures as low as 3.3 psia. The maximum total pressure ratio achieved was 221. The original CPAAR apparatus was rebuilt re-instrumented and capability expanded. A fixed volume plenum was attached to the secondary ducts through a constant area square section to mimic the cross section of the secondary ducts with a bell mouth inlet. The mixing duct length was increased from 8 in. to 18 in. An investigation of the mixing duct flow-field was done with data from pressure and temperature instrumentation. A study of the transient operation of the rocket was compared with results from former research to qualify the quasi-steady assumption of the flow-field. The CPAAR produced Fabri-choked operation, the startup transient observed caused the secondary flow to become established during Fabri-choke mode operation. The supersonic saturated mode was not observed during quasi-steady operation. The quasi-steady operation was defined based on characteristics from previous quasi-steady models of transient operation of supersonic ejectors. The measurement of the data during testing resulted in a 2.96% experimental uncertainty in the entrainment ratio calculation. The smallest entrainment ratio observed was 0.05 at a total pressure ratio of 220. The location of the Fabri-choke point was shown through the interpretation of the primary and secondary flow as a result of the pressure and temperature measurements. The experimental evidence showed the location of the secondary choke point has a logarithmic relationship with the total pressure ratio. At a total pressure ratio of 220, the area of the aerodynamic throat of the secondary flow is 0.26 in2 and the location occurs 6 inches downstream from the nozzle exit. The secondary flow un-choke is related to the breakdown of the shock structure of the primary flow and produces a flow-field asymmetry which blocks the right duct flow. The CPSE simulation was unable to accurately predict AAR performance when the inputs are changed from the original CPAAR configuration. At high pressure ratios (PR=220), the error in the prediction is 90%.

Shallow foundations are widely used in different types of soils for supporting the loads from the lightly loaded superstructures of various civil infrastructures both on level and sloping ground. Design of shallow foundations in geotechnical engineering practice is widely based on the principles of saturated soil mechanics because they are relatively simple. However, the soil near the ground surface (i.e., vadose zone) in which the shallow foundations are typically placed is in an unsaturated state. The water content variation in unsaturated soils is influenced by hydrological events such as the snow melt, rainfall infiltration, evaporation, and the plant transpiration. Due to this reason, the hydro-mechanical properties (i.e., coefficient of permeability, shear strength and volume change) of unsaturated soils are sensitive to the variation in soil suction associated with water content changes. These properties in turn have a significant impact on the bearing capacity and settlement behavior of the shallow foundations. Therefore, it is rational to investigate shallow foundations’ behavior extending the principles of unsaturated soil mechanics. During the last two decades, there has been a significant interest towards investigating shallow foundations based on unsaturated soil mechanics. Laboratory, field, and model studies highlight that matric suction variation in unsaturated soils has a significant influence on the bearing capacity and settlement behavior of shallow foundations. However, the focus of most of the presently available studies in the literature consider mostly vertical loading conditions on level soil ground. There are limited studies related to the design of shallow foundations on sloping ground and subjected to inclined and eccentric loading conditions. Also, there are only few studies that consider the effect of the steady state and transient flow conditions on the foundation bearing capacity evaluation. Therefore, one of the key objectives of this thesis is directed toward developing rational tools for investigating shallow foundations considering the steady state and transient flow conditions associated with water infiltration and evaporation in unsaturated soils. Comprehensive investigation studies are undertaken to interpret the influence of the steady state and transient flow conditions on the shallow foundations related to: (i) bearing capacity on the sloping ground in different types of soils including expansive soils, and (ii) bearing capacity under the inclined and eccentric loading conditions with homogeneous soil properties and considering spatial variation of soil properties. Succinct details related to investigated studies are summarized below: (1) An analytical method is proposed for quantifying the bearing capacity of the shallow foundations on unsaturated soil slopes considering different rainfall infiltration conditions. The proposed method is a novel tool for considering the simultaneous influence of several parameters that include the flow rates, the infiltration duration, the foundation set-back distance and the ground water table depth on the foundation bearing capacity. (2) Another analytical method is proposed for evaluating the foundation bearing capacity under inclined and eccentric loading considering both the steady state and transient flow conditions. Semi-empirical equations are proposed for describing the failure envelops in vertical and horizontal (V - H) loading space and in the vertical and moment (V - M) loading space. These equations are capable to describe the variation of failure envelops considering the influence of the groundwater table depth variation, internal friction angles, surface flux boundary conditions and different infiltration durations. (3) The influence of infiltration on the combined performance of both the foundation and the slope in cracked expansive soils is evaluated with the aid of a numerical technique. A semi-empirical model that describes the elastic modulus and the matric suction is implemented into the numerical model. Bimodal soil water characteristic curve is used as a tool for understanding the influence of surface cracks in the numerical study in a simplified manner. The influence of the rainfall intensity, rainfall duration, foundation setback distance and foundation loading on the combined performance of foundation and slope were investigated. Results combined with some suggestions for rational design procedures are presented that can be useful for geotechnical engineers in practice applications. (4) Numerical analyses are conducted for shallow foundations under vertical and combined loading subjected to different flow conditions. A numerical code procedure is exclusively developed as a part of this study to: (i) consider the variation of soil properties along with the matric suction fluctuations in the commercial software ABAQUS with the aid of a user developed subroutine USDFLD; (ii) incorporate the spatial variability of soil properties into the finite element model. Comparisons are provided between the numerical study and other methods such as the experimental investigations, the analytical methods, and the semi-empirical equations for bearing capacity failure envelopes. In addition, comparisons are also made between the failure envelopes and the failure mechanisms contour using the model considering soil spatial variability and homogeneous soil properties. The proposed methods in this thesis are simple to use for evaluating bearing capacity of shallow foundations that are subjected to steady state and transient state flow conditions considering two scenarios: (i) foundation on sloping ground (ii) foundation under inclined and eccentric loading. The results from the above studies reveal that it is the relationship between the soil permeability and the rainfall characteristics that mainly control the water infiltration rates. The soil suction and the effective degree of saturation are influenced by the water infiltration rates and have a significant impact on the foundation as well as the slope behavior. More importantly, the investigations undertaken in this thesis contribute towards addressing the research gaps related to the behavior of foundations in unsaturated soils. Various scenarios considered in this thesis include the influence of unsaturated flow have not been considered earlier in the literature. The results of the studies summarized in this thesis are expected to be useful for practicing geotechnical engineers in the optimal design of shallow foundations extending the principles of unsaturated soil mechanics for various soils. Moreover, the proposed methods can be used for interpreting the foundation behavior for their entire life span service. In addition, these methods can be employed to rationally explain the field-measured data and can also be used in the forensics analyses of failed slopes and shallow foundations.

Time integration methods are necessary for the solution of transient flow problems. In recent years, interest in transient flow problems has increased, leading to a need for better understanding of the costs and benefits of various time integration schemes. The present work investigates two common time integration schemes, namely the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) and the Fractional Step (FS) method. Three two-dimensional, transient, incompressible flow problems are solved using a cell centered, finite volume code. The three test cases are laminar flow in a lid-driven skewed cavity, laminar flow over a square cylinder, and turbulent flow over a square cylinder. Turbulence is modeled using wall functions and the k - ε turbulence model with the modifications suggested by Kato and Launder. Solution efficiency as measured by the effort carried out by the flow equation solver and CPU time is examined. Accuracy of the results, generated using the SIMPLE and FS time integration schemes, is analyzed through a comparison of the results with existing experimental and/or numerical solutions. Both the SIMPLE and FS algorithms are shown to be capable of solving benchmark flow problems with reasonable accuracy. The two schemes differ slightly in their prediction of flow evolution over time, especially when simulating very slowly changing flows. As the time step size decreases, the SIMPLE algorithm computational cost (CPU time) per time step remains approximately constant, while the FS method experiences a reduction in cost per time step. Also, the SIMPLE algorithm is numerically stable for time steps approaching infinity, while the FS scheme suffers from numerical instability if the time step size is too large. As a result, the SIMPLE algorithm is recommended to be used for transient simulations with large time steps or steady state problems while the FS scheme is better suited for small time step solutions, although both time-stepping schemes are found to be most efficient when their time steps are at their maximum stable value.

Time integration methods are necessary for the solution of transient flow problems. In recent years, interest in transient flow problems has increased, leading to a need for better understanding of the costs and benefits of various time integration schemes. The present work investigates two common time integration schemes, namely the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) and the Fractional Step (FS) method. Three two-dimensional, transient, incompressible flow problems are solved using a cell centered, finite volume code. The three test cases are laminar flow in a lid-driven skewed cavity, laminar flow over a square cylinder, and turbulent flow over a square cylinder. Turbulence is modeled using wall functions and the k - ε turbulence model with the modifications suggested by Kato and Launder. Solution efficiency as measured by the effort carried out by the flow equation solver and CPU time is examined. Accuracy of the results, generated using the SIMPLE and FS time integration schemes, is analyzed through a comparison of the results with existing experimental and/or numerical solutions. Both the SIMPLE and FS algorithms are shown to be capable of solving benchmark flow problems with reasonable accuracy. The two schemes differ slightly in their prediction of flow evolution over time, especially when simulating very slowly changing flows. As the time step size decreases, the SIMPLE algorithm computational cost (CPU time) per time step remains approximately constant, while the FS method experiences a reduction in cost per time step. Also, the SIMPLE algorithm is numerically stable for time steps approaching infinity, while the FS scheme suffers from numerical instability if the time step size is too large. As a result, the SIMPLE algorithm is recommended to be used for transient simulations with large time steps or steady state problems while the FS scheme is better suited for small time step solutions, although both time-stepping schemes are found to be most efficient when their time steps are at their maximum stable value.

Laplace transform step-response functions are presented for one dimensional transient flow in fractured semi-infinite &amp / finite aquifers. Unsteady flow in the aquifer resulting from a constant discharge pumped from the stream is considered. Flow is one-dimensional, perpendicular to the stream in the confined aquifers. The stream is assumed to penetrate the full thickness of the aquifer. The aquifers may be semi-infinite or finite in width. The Laplace domain solutions are numerically inverted to the real-time domain with the Stehfest (1970) algorithm. During the course of the thesis a simple computer code is written to handle the algorithm and the code is verified by applying it to the one-dimensional transient flow in a semi-infinite homogeneous aquifer problem which can be solved analytically to crosscheck with the numerical results.