The two-dimensional model, ParticleFlow, simulates flow in a rectangular domain. A key purpose of the ParticleFlow model is to illustrate how heterogeneities in hydraulic properties cause the spatial spreading of fluid particles. This spreading is analogous to macro-scale solute dispersion.
The user defines the rectangular mesh and hydraulic gradient, draws regions of hydraulic conductivity on the mesh, clicks a button to draw hydraulic head lines, then chooses whether to draw flow lines or to track particle movement, both of which can be animated with time. Time is indicated below the cross section.
If activated, the center of mass in the x and z directions are respectively indicated by blue and green arrow heads. The distance spanned by the specified number of standard deviations (on both sides of the center of mass) is indicated by blue and green lines.
If activated, the plots of spatial variance (Sxx and Szz) versus time are shown next to the model domain. To see these plots, it might be necessary to increase the size of the window or reduce the size of the model domain by zooming out.
Citation: Hsieh, P. (2020). Transport: ParticleFlow. An Interactive Educational Tool of The Groundwater Project, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.