Abstract
For the simulation of groundwater flow, numerical models based on either finite difference method or finite element method (FEM) are most commonly used. These methods require well-defined grids or mesh and also large efforts in pre-processing. But, recently developed MeshFree (MFree) method does not require a predefined grid or mesh and this translates into savings on both computational cost incurred and the time required. Several MFree methods have been proposed over the last decade, though some of them are not totally MFree in the truest sense. Some MFree methods, like those based on the point collocation method (PCM), do not have an associated mesh but others, such as those based on the Galerkin method, actually require an auxiliary mesh or cell structure. In this paper, a MFree method based on PCM is discussed and comparison of results obtained with the conventional FEM is presented for groundwater flow problems. Here, PCM- and FEM-based groundwater flow models for confined aquifer in two-dimensional are developed. The PCM model has been applied to hypothetical groundwater flow problems and results are compared with analytical solutions and FEM model results. MFree-based PCM model has been found to be more accurate than FEM results when compared with analytical solutions. The present study shows the effectiveness of PCM-based models for groundwater flow simulation.
Published Version
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