Numerical analysis of coupled hydrosystems based on an object-oriented compartment approach

In this paper we present an object-oriented concept for numerical simulation of multi-field problems for coupled hydrosystem analysis. Individual (flow) processes modelled by a particular partial differential equation, i.e. overland flow by the shallow water equation, variably saturated flow by the Richards equation and saturated flow by the groundwater flow equation, are identified with their corresponding hydrologic compartments such as land surface, vadose zone and aquifers, respectively. The object-oriented framework of the compartment approach allows an uncomplicated coupling of these existing flow models. After a brief outline of the underlying mathematical models we focus on the numerical modelling and coupling of overland flow, variably saturated and groundwater flows via exchange flux terms. As each process object is associated with its own spatial discretisation mesh, temporal time-stepping scheme and appropriate numerical solution procedure. Flow processes in hydrosystems are coupled via their compartment (or process domain) boundaries without giving up the computational necessities and optimisations for the numerical solution of each individual process. However, the coupling requires a bridging of different temporal and spatial scales, which is solved here by the integration of fluxes (spatially and temporally). In closing we present three application examples: a benchmark test for overland flow on an infiltrating surface and two case studies – at the Borden site in Canada and the Beerze–Reusel drainage basin in the Netherlands.