Integrodifferential equations for systems of leaky aquifers and applications 3. A numerical method of unlimited applicability

The integrodifferential equation formulation of leaky aquifer mechanics is used to develop a numerical method of unlimited applicability based on the finite element technique. This approach reduces the dimensionality of the problem and effectively uncouples the equations corresponding to each of the aquifers. Thus the number of nodes required and the bandwidth of the matrices involved are significantly reduced. Consequently, storage and computer time are decreased by a factor greater than 30 in axially symmetric problems and by a considerably greater factor in the absence of such symmetry.