LAPLACE FLOW NEAR AN ELLIPSOIDAL CONDUCTOR

An existing algebraic solution to Laplace's equation for the steady th ree-dimensional temperature distribution around an ellipsoid embedded in a uniform, isotropic medium is used to study the characteristics of porous/permeable media flow near a variety of objects. Symbolic-compu tation techniques are used to derive new closed-form algebraic express ions for flow potentials near general ellipsoids. These expressions ar e used to derive simple algebraic results for various degenerate and l imiting cases. Flow paths are calculated using numerical particle-trac king techniques, defining capture and release zones for the embedded o bjects. The application and relevance of these results to the flow of groundwater near shallow lakes are discussed, and possibilities for fu ture work are noted. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.