Search Results (8)

In this paper, a novel approximate triangular fuzzy finite element method (FEM) is proposed to solve the one-dimensional second-order unsteady nonlinear fuzzy partial differential Boussinesq equation. The physical problem concerns the case of the drought flow of a horizontal unconfined aquifer with a limited breath B and special boundary conditions: (a) at x = 0, the water level is equal to zero, and (b) at x = B, the flow rate is equal to zero due to the presence of an impermeable wall. The initial water table is assumed to be curvilinear, following the form of an inverse incomplete beta function. To account for uncertainties in the system, the hydraulic parameters—hydraulic conductivity (K) and porosity (S)—are treated as fuzzy variables, considering sources of imprecision such as measurement errors and human-induced uncertainties. The performance of the proposed fuzzy FEM scheme is compared with the previously developed orthogonal fuzzy FEM solution as well as with an analytical solution. The results are in close agreement with those of the other methods, with the mean error of the analytical solution found to be equal to $1.19·{10}^{-6}$. Furthermore, the possibility theory is applied and fuzzy estimators constructed, leading to strong probabilistic interpretations. These findings provide valuable insights into the hydraulic properties of unconfined aquifers, aiding engineers and water resource managers in making informed and efficient decisions for sustainable hydrological and environmental planning. Full article

In this work, a novel fuzzy FEM (Finite Elements Method) numerical solution describing the recession flow in unconfined aquifers is proposed. In general, recession flow and drainage problems can be described by the nonlinear Boussinesq equation, while the introduced hydraulic parameters (Conductivity K and Porosity S) present significant uncertainties for various reasons (e.g., spatial distribution, human errors, etc.). Considering the general lack of in situ measurements for these parameters as well as the certain spatial variability that they present in field scales, a fuzzy approach was adopted to include the problem uncertainties and cover the disadvantage of ground truth missing data. The overall problem is encountered with a new approximate fuzzy FEM numerical solution, leading to a system of crisp boundary value problems. To prove the validity and efficiency of the new fuzzy FEM, a comparative analysis between the proposed approach and other well-known and tested approximations was carried out. According to the results, the proposed FEM numerical solution agrees with Karadinumerical method for the crisp case and is in close agreement with the original analytical solution proposed by Boussinesq in 1904 with the absolute reduced error to be 4.6‰. Additionally, the possibility theory is applied, enabling the engineers and designers of irrigation, drainage, and water resources projects to gain knowledge of hydraulic properties (e.g., water level, outflow volume) and make the right decisions for rational and productive engineering studies. Full article

The process of how soil moisture profiles evolve into the soil and reach the root zone could be estimated by solving the appropriate strong nonlinear Richards’ equation. The nonlinearity of the equation occurs because diffusivity D is generally an exponential function of water content. In this work, the boundary conditions of the physical problem are considered fuzzy for various reasons (e.g., machine impression, human errors, etc.), and the overall problem is encountered with a new approximate fuzzy analytical solution, leading to a system of crisp boundary value problems. According to the results, the proposed fuzzy analytical solution is in close agreement with Philip’s semi-analytical method, which is used as a reference solution, after testing 12 different types of soils. Additionally, possibility theory is applied, enabling the decision-makers to take meaningful actions and gain knowledge of various soil and hydraulic properties (e.g., sorptivity, infiltration, etc.) for rational and productive engineering studies (e.g., irrigation systems). Full article

The solution to the second-order fuzzy unsteady nonlinear partial differential one-dimensional Boussinesq equation is examined. The physical problem concerns unsteady flow in a semi-infinite, unconfined aquifer bordering a lake. There is a sudden rise and subsequent stabilization in the water level of the lake; thus, the aquifer is recharging from the lake. The fuzzy solution is presented by a simple algebraic equation transformed in a fourth-degree polynomial approximation for the head profiles. In order to solve this equation, the initial and boundary conditions, as well as the numerous soil properties, must be known. A fuzzy approach is used to solve the problem since the aforementioned auxiliary conditions are vulnerable to various types of uncertainty resulting from human and machine errors. The physical problem described by a partial differential equation and the generalized Hukuhara derivative and the application of this theory for the partial derivatives were chosen as solving methods. In order to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the suggested fuzzy analytical method, this study compares the findings of fuzzy analysis to those obtained using the Runge–Kutta method. This comparison attests to the accuracy of the former. Additionally, this results in a fuzzy number for water level profiles as well as for the water volume variation, whose α-cuts, provide according to Possibility Theory, the water levels and the water volume confidence intervals with probability p = 1 − α. Full article

Very well-drained lands could have a positive impact in various soil health indicators such as soil erosion and soil texture. A drainage system is responsible for properly aerated soil. Until today, in order to design a drainage system, a big challenge remained to find the subsurface drain spacing because many of the soil and hydraulic parameters present significant uncertainties. This fact also creates uncertainties to the overall physical problem solution, which, if not included in the preliminary design studies and calculations, could have bad consequences for the cultivated lands and soils. Finding the drain spacing requires the knowledge of the unsteady groundwater movement, which is described by the linear Boussinesq equation (Glover-Dumm equation). In this paper, the Adomian solution to the second order unsteady linear fuzzy partial differential one-dimensional Boussinesq equation is presented. The physical problem concerns unsteady drain spacing in a semi-infinite unconfined aquifer. The boundary conditions, with an initially horizontal water table, are considered fuzzy and the overall problem is translated to a system of crisp boundary value problems. Consequently, the crisp problem is solved using an Adomian decomposition method (ADM) and useful practical results are presented. In addition, by application of the possibility theory, the fuzzy results are translated into a crisp space, enabling the decision maker to make correct decisions about both the drain spacing and the future soil health management practices, with a reliable degree of confidence. Full article

In this article, the solution to the fuzzy second order unsteady partial differential equation (Boussinesq equation) is examined, for the case of an aquifer recharging from a lake. In the examined problem, there is a sudden rise and subsequent stabilization of the lake’s water level, thus the aquifer is recharging from the lake. The aquifer boundary conditions are fuzzy and create ambiguities to the solution of the problem. Since the aforementioned problem concerns differential equations, the generalized Hukuhara (gH) derivative was used for total derivatives, as well as the extension of this theory concerning partial derivatives. The case studies proved to follow the generalized Hukuhara (gH) derivative conditions and they offer a unique solution. The development of the aquifer water profile was examined, as well as the calculation of the recharging fuzzy water movement profiles, velocity, and volume, and the results were depicted in diagrams. According to presented results, the hydraulic engineer, being specialist in irrigation projects or in water management, could estimate the appropriate water volume quantity with an uncertainty level, given by the α-cuts. Full article

Classical linear regression has been used to measure the relationship between rainfall data and altitude in different meteorological stations, in order to evaluate a linear relation. The values of rainfall are supposed as dependent variables and the values of elevation of each station as independent variables. It has long been known that a classical statistical relationship exists between annual rainfall and the station elevation which in many cases is linear as the one examined in this article. However classical linear regression makes rigid assumptions about the statistical properties of the model, accepting the error terms as random variables, and the violation of this assumption could affect the validity of the classical linear regression. Fuzzy regression assumes ambiguous and imprecise parameters and data. For this reason it may be more effective than classical regression. In this paper we evaluate the relationship between annual rainfall data and the elevation of each station in Thessaly’s meteorological stations, using fuzzy linear regression with trapezoidal membership functions. In this possibilistic model the dependent measured elevations are crisp, and the independent observed rainfall values as well as the parameters of the model are fuzzy. Full article

The selection of an appropriate spillway has a significant effect to the construction of a dam and several procedures and considerations are needed. In the past, this selection of the type of the spillway was arbitrary and sometimes with bad results. Recently the Multiple Criteria Decision Making theory has given the possibility to make a decision about the optimum form of a spillway under complex circumstances. In this paper, the above method is used and especially the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method for the selection of a spillway for a dam in the district of Kilkis in Northern Greece—‘Dam Pigi’. As the criteria were fuzzy and uncertain, the Fuzzy TOPSIS method is introduced together with the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), which is used for the evaluation of criteria and weights. Five types of spillways were selected as alternatives and nine criteria. The criteria are expressed as triangular fuzzy numbers in order to formulate the problem. Finally, using the Fuzzy TOPSIS method, the alternatives were ranked and the optimum type of spillway was obtained. Full article