A COMPARISON STUDY BETWEEN TWO MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF GROUNDWATER FLOW SIMULATION IN TEEB AREA, MISSAN PROVINCE

Abstract

Two-dimensional mathematical models are developed to simulate the flow regime of the upper part of Quaternary Deposits by two approaches finite difference and finite element. The suggested conceptual model, which is advocated to simulate the flow regime of aquifer is fixed for one layer, i.e. the activity of the deeper aquifer is negligible. The models are calibrated using trial and error procedure in two stages, steady state followed by unsteady state. Calibrated value of hydraulic conductivity and specific yield using MODFLOW (finite difference) and MICROFEM (finite element) simulations for both steady and unsteady states ranged (1-10) m/day while the specific yield ranges between (0.1- 0.4). For steady state condition, the mean absolute errors are 0.249 and 0.133 for MODFLOW and MICROFEM respectively. For unsteady state condition, the mean absolute errors are 0.025 and 0.02 for MODFLOW and MICROFEM respectively. The results of MODFLOW and MICROFEM shows that the flow in the study area from northeast to southwest.