Advantages of SVFlux 3D

The SVFlux seepage modeling software package is not designed to be just another seepage modeling package. It is specifically designed to bring seepage modeling to "the next level". As such, it offers the following significant advantages over currently available seepage modeling software packages:

• Stochastic Analysis - SVFlux now implements statistical analysis. Input soil property variables may be input as normal distributions or Monte Carlo simulations. For example, saturated hydraulic conductivity can be input as a lognormal distribution and the resulting variation output. For more information on this feature click here.
• Evaporative Boundary Condition - Implementation of the Modified Penman equation is now included in SVFlux. The evaporative boundary condition is simple to use and allows fast modeling of the long-term performance of soil covers.
• Automatic mesh generation - Fully automatic mesh generation is provided based on problem geometry. The automatic mesh generation allows for simulation of extremely complex problems drawn manually or imported from AutoCAD.
• Automatic mesh refinement - SVFlux is the only seepage software package worldwide to provide automatic mesh refinement based on any problem variable. For example, mesh refinement can be set to respond to head, gradients in the x or y direction, permeabilities in the x or y direction, etc.
• Customizable Solutions - This unique feature allows experimental formulations to be tested with no programming effort. For more information on this feature, click here.
• Fully Automatic Time-step Refinement - SVFlux also provides automatic time-step refinement for transient seepage models. The time-step refinement provides an added degree of convergence stability in transient problems. Plots of program variables may be selected at any time-step irregardless of the time-step increment used to obtain a solution.
• Increased Solution Stability - The automatic mesh refinement present in SVFlux causes the mesh to be refined around critical zones of the solution mesh. There are two benefits of this refinement. (1) The user is able to determine the location of critical zones visually, and, (2) the ability of SVFlux to converge around these critical zones is better than conventional seepage software. The solver used by SVFlux uses the Galerkin Integral method with a non-linear Newton-Raphson iteration technique with three types of pre-conditioning of the convergence matrix. The pre-conditioning of the convergence matrix significantly improves convergence stability over other software solutions.
• Modeling in the Unsaturated Zone - SVFlux is formulated to handle water flow through the unsaturated (vadose) zone. Hydraulic conductivity and the soil-water characteristic curve may be selected from the database of unsaturated laboratory data on over 6200 soils.
• Model Creation Method - SVFlux offers four specific advantages over other software solutions in the creation of models. 3D wireframes of grids and regions allow previewing of created model. The following four features allow the creation of extremely complex models quickly and efficiently:
• 1) Varying Grid Density - Models are created in SVFlux3D by stacking grids. Each grid may be of a different density. Grid densities of up to 12,000 points have been successfully implemented in SVFlux3D models. Grids may be imported from Surfer files.

• 2) Varying Grid Size - It is not a requirement in SVFlux3D that grids be the same size.

• 3) Pinching out of Grids - Pinching out of grids can be handled easily in SVFlux3D. Overlapping grids can also be handled by specifying which grid is the dominant grid. Grids can also be modified to allow a minimum thickness between grids.

• 4) Highly irregular problem definition - Regions are specified as cookie-cutter shapes extruded between surfaces. Regions may be any irregular shape and may be extruded between one or several surfaces.

• Problem Customization - Models set up by the front end are written in a scripting language (similar to MathCAD ™) prior to being solved by the solver. The models may be modified and/or prior to solution by end-users familiar with the mathematical language. Coupling of models may be performed as well as additional functions or problem variables defined.
• Metric and Imperial Units - All developed models may be built and viewed using metric or imperial units.
• Soil Property Database Of Over 6000 Soils - When bundled with SoilVision, the user has access to a large database of laboratory-measured soil-water characteristic curves (over 6200) as well as over 2500 measured saturated permeabilities and over 600 unsaturated permeability curves. Laboratory data may be cut and pasted into any particular problem in SVFlux.
• Estimation Of Unsaturated Soil Properties - When bundled with SoilVision, the user also has access to the world's best unsaturated soil property estimation methods. Seven methods of theoretically estimating the soil-water characteristic curve including Arya & Paris, Fredlund & Wilson, and Vereecken are included. Eight methods of estimating saturated permeability are included as well as five methods for estimating unsaturated permeability.
• Internal Database Of Model Soil Properties - An internal database of soil properties (required for seepage modeling) is maintained by the SVFlux software (separate from the SoilVision database). The user therefore has a choice with each new model to either enter new soil properties or pull soil properties from a previous problem.
• Flexible Boundary Conditions - Free form equations or tabled precipitation data may be input as boundary conditions. This is in addition to the standard head or flux boundary conditions.
• Database Driven - All created models are stored in a database. This allows the user to develop a database of models. Models are organized by project and model type for future reference. All previous models can be used as templates in the creation of future models. The database format is also ideal for multi-user environments. The database file may be installed on a server and multiple users may "plug in" to the same file. All model creation is therefore centralized and available to the entire company.
• Price advantage - SVFlux is designed as high-end seepage modeling software while not breaking your budget! Click here for current pricing.