A multiphase consolidation theory is presented which considers a three-dimensional deformation field coupled with a three-dimensional hydrologic flow field. The governing systen of equations describes the components of displacement, the fluid pressures and the saturations. The system of equations governing saturated-unsaturated consolidation is obtained as a subset of the above equations. A mired stress-displacement formulation of the governing equations is introduced, and it facilitates handling of load type boundary conditions while solutions in terms of displacements are still possible. Finite element Galerkin theory is used for spatial approximations, and a weighted implicit finite diff erence time-stepping scheme is employed to approximate the time derivative terms. Due to the nonlinear nature of the problem, an iterative solution scheme is necessary within each time step.

The model predicts the commonly ignored horizontal displacements in a variably saturated system undergoing simultaneous desaturation and deformation, while using a completely interconnected coupling of the stress and pressure fields within the medium. The model is applied to obtain vertical and horizontal displacements, pressure (head) and saturation values due to pumpage in a phreatic aquifer .

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