A radial point interpolation method for 1D contaminant transport modelling through landfill liners

Abstract

In the framework of meshfree methods, a new methodology is developed based on radial point interpolation method (RPIM). This methodology is applied to a one-dimensional contaminant transport modelling in the saturated porous media. The one-dimensional form of advection-dispersion equation involving reactive contaminant is considered in the analysis. The Galerkin weak form of the governing equation is formulated using 1D meshfree shape functions constructed using thin plate spline radial basis functions. MATLAB code is developed to obtain the numerical solution. Numerical examples representing various phenomena, which occur during migration of contaminants, are presented to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method and the results are compared with those obtained from the analytical and finite element solutions. The proposed RPIM has generated results with no oscillations and they are insensitive to Peclet constraints. In order to test the practical applicability and performance of the RPIM, three case studies of contaminant transport through the landfill liners are presented. A good agreement is obtained between the results of the RPIM and the field investigation data.