Example of Transient Groundwater Flow Modeling with MODFLOW 6 - Tutorial

Based on the new file format and keywords from MODFLOW 6 it is more simple to understand a model while inspecting the input files. This tutorial show a example of a steady and transient flow model in MODFLOW 6 for a period of 30 days divided into 4 stress periods. The tutorial has a introduction to the model geometry, input files and boundary conditions, a model simulation in transient flow conditions and output visualization as VTU files in Paraview. The tutorial also includes a discussion on the water balance from the groundwater flow system at the end of the simulation.

The model used in this tutorial has the following characteristics:

• 3 layers, 15 rows, and 10 cols
• Constant grid width of 40 m, total thickness of 180 m.
• Implementation of GHB, RIV, EVT,  WEL packages
• RCH was implemented on 3 packages for specified cells
• Observation package for a multilevel piezometer
• Time series for GHB, RCH, RIV, WEL in additional files
• 1 steady state stress period of 1 day 
• 3 transient stress period of 10 days divided in 120 stress period

This model is a version of the "AdvGW_tidal" from the MODFLOW 6 documentation.

Figures

Model discretization

Isometric View of the Model Grid

Boundary conditions

Isometric View of Boundary Conditions: RIV (green), WEL (purple), and GHB (light blue)

Groundwater flow regime at the end of simulation

Isometric View of Equipotential Surfaces with Boundary Conditions

 

Tutorial

Part 1

Part 2

 

Input files

You can download the input files from this tutorial on this link.