Using a Sand Tank Groundwater Model to Investigate a Groundwater Flow Model

Authors

Christopher Evrard, Ball State University
Callie Johnson, Ball State University
Michael A. Karls, Ball State UniversityFollow
Nicole Regnier, Ball State University

Publication Date

1-4-2024

Keywords

Aquifer, hydraulic head, groundwater flow model, sand tank, separation of variables, Fourier's Law, IVBVP, no-flow boundary, mixed boundary conditions

Disciplines

Environmental Education | Mathematics | Partial Differential Equations | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Science and Mathematics Education

Abstract

A Sand Tank Groundwater Model is a tabletop physical model constructed of plexiglass and filled with sand that is typically used to illustrate how groundwater water flows through an aquifer, how water wells work, and the effects of contaminants introduced into an aquifer. Mathematically groundwater flow through an aquifer can be modeled with the heat equation. We will show how a Sand Tank Groundwater Model can be used to simulate groundwater flow through an aquifer with a no flow boundary condition.

Recommended Citation

Evrard, Christopher; Johnson, Callie; Karls, Michael A.; and Regnier, Nicole (2024) "Using a Sand Tank Groundwater Model to Investigate a Groundwater Flow Model," CODEE Journal: Vol. 17, Article 13.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/codee/vol17/iss1/13

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License