Finite element digital model for longitudinal dispersion of pollutant in porous media

Surface and groundwater sources of water are being contaminated in the course of rapid urbanization and industrialization. The groundwater environment is being assaulted with an ever increasing number of soluble chemicals and human and industrial wastes which are let out on to the surface without treatment. Groundwater pollution often results in aquifers being damaged beyond repair. To prevent the pollution of groundwater resources, first we should identify the areas and mechanisms by which the pollutants enter the groundwater systems and the development of reliable predictions of the transport of the contaminant within the now systems. These predictions will become the basis for minimizing the impact of existing or proposed industrial, agricultural and municipal activities which may affect the groundwater quality. It is necessary to study the different engineering aspects of groundwater quality control. The different aspects include 1) anticipating the probable future solute concentration distribution in the groundwater aquifer at any time since the beginning of the contamination and 2) deciding whether the contamination of a particular groundwater zone has crossed the limits of tolerance. From the above points, it is strongly felt that there is need to study the phenomenon of dispersion of pollutant in the porous media flow. The study necessitates the solution of a differential equation describing the solute transport process. In this study, a finite element digital model has been developed for longitudinal dispersion of the pollutant in the porous media. The results obtained from the above model are found to be in close agreement with those of the analytical solution given by earlier researchers. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.