SEEP2D is a two-dimensional finite element groundwater model developed by Fred Tracy of the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES). SEEP2D is designed to be used on profile models (XZ models) such as cross-sections of earth dams or levees.
SEEP2D can be used for either confined or unconfined steady state flow models. For unconfined models, there are two options for determining the phreatic surface. With the first option, the mesh is automatically truncated as the iterative solution process proceeds and when the model converges, the upper boundary of the mesh corresponds to the phreatic surface. With the second option, both saturated and unsaturated flow is simulated and the mesh is not modified. The phreatic surface can be displayed by plotting the contour line at where pressure head equals zero.
A variety of options are provided in GMS for displaying SEEP2D results. Contours of total head (equipotential lines) and flow vectors can be plotted. An option is also available for computing flow potential values at the nodes. These values can be used to plot flow lines. Together with the equipotential lines (lines of constant total head), the flow lines can be used to plot a flow net.
