ABSTRACT
This paper presents an adaptive multi grid - finite element method for modeling unsaturated groundwater flow. By refining only rough regions of the problem domain adaptive local grid refinement improves the computational accuracy and uses computer resources more efficiently, especially for three-dimensional simulations. The modeling technique is presented by stating the mathematical model for unsaturated groundwater flow first. This model is then solved numerically combining the finite element method and a multi grid technique. The performance of the resulting algorithm will be illustrated for a three-dimensional application and its two-dimensional counterpart. This example clearly indicates the relevance of modeling the real world in three dimensions.
