We can perform a hand calculation to check our calculator.
For this benchmark, we will assume the values in Table 1 to compute the maximum height of the
mound beneath a rectangular recharge area:
Table 1. Definition of Benchmark Problem
hydraulic conductivity
0.0864 m/d
specific yield
0.01
initial saturated thickness
10 m
length of recharge area
10 m
width of recharge area
10 m
recharge rate
0.08 m/d
time
10 d
Table 2 shows the results of the successive approximation calculations for
the benchmark problem.
The quantities
b and hm were
computed with equations given with our calculator; the
values of S* were obtained by interpolation from tabulated values in Hantush (1967, Table 1). Results for hm,
the maximum height of the mound above the aquifer base,
are shown to three digits in keeping with the precision of tabulated
S* values used in the computation.
Table 2. Hand Calculation for Benchmark
Problem
Iteration
b (m)
S*
hm (m)
1
10
0.0468
13.2
2
11.61
0.0416
13.3
3
11.65
0.0416
13.3
You can easily verify that the
calculator on this web site matches the above hand calculation very
closely for the benchmark problem (Table 3).
