First-Order Reliability Approach to Stochastic Analysis of Subsurface Flow and Contaminant Transport

Abstract

The first-order reliability method is an attractive approach to stochastic analysis of subsurface flow and contaminant transport. The method can be used with either analytical or numerical solutions, allowing a uniform but flexible approach to solving a variety of problems, and it can fully utilize any level of probabilistic information from the minimum knowledge of second moments to complete knowledge of the full joint distribution. Therefore the first-order reliability method is particularly useful when statistical information is incomplete, as is common for problems in the subsurface environment. Additionally, correlation and nonnormal marginal distributions may be incorporated into the solution. Results from a first-order reliability analysis include an estimate of the probability of exceeding a specified performance criteria and measures of sensitivity of the stochastic solution to changes in random variables and their statistical moments. Three subsurface flow and contaminant transport example problems are used to illustrate the capabilities of the method; results from these examples compare well with previously published Monte Carlo simulation results.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Aquifers; Flow of Water - Porous Materials; Hydrology - Mathematical Models; Water Pollution - Underground; Contaminant Transport; First Order Reliability Method; Groundwater Transport; Stochastic Analysis; Water Resources

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0043-1397

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1987 American Geophysical Union (AGU), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 1987

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