Boundary Conditions Tab

Figure 1 shows an example of the Boundary Conditions tab that contains boundary condition information and editing features. The Number of Boundary Groups frame provides the user with a summary of the current assigned boundary groups. The user can also view, create and edit boundary conditions from the ViewPlan | Boundary Conditions feature.

Figure 1  Domain Tab: Boundary Conditions.

EFDC applies the boundary conditions in a cell by cell manner. However, EFDC_Explorer takes a more physically based approach to handle boundary conditions. It groups boundary cells into logical groupings, e.g., a river inflow, a tributary or an open boundary along one face. Ideally, the user will create the group, name it something meaningful to the project, assign all the cells included in that group to the group (this can be done manually or via polylines/polygons), and then set the boundary condition. The boundary group information is stored in the EFDC.EE project file located in the project directory. However, if there are no current groupings when EFDC_Explorer loads a project (which is the case for existing EFDC models not managed with EFDC_Explorer), it groups the existing boundary cells into groups based on the type of boundary condition and their locations. Within a group, the flow, head and pressure settings can vary from cell to cell but the water quality parameters must be the same. This limits the complete specification of each cell that EFDC provides, but gives a much more logical way to manage the boundary conditions. If the user needs to specify the water column parameters on a cell by cell basis the EFDC_Explorer user needs to manage each cell as a separate group.

The boundary condition time series available in EFDC are displayed in the Number of Input Tables and Series frame (see Figure 1). The number of currently defined tables and series are displayed alongside the button labeled "E". A time series boundary condition editor is displayed if the user clicks the "E" button. Jet type boundary condition uses a flow series. Once the user has created a Jet type boundary conditions from ViewPlan | Boundary Conditions, the GUI is accessed from the Edit/Review button in Boundary Group Utilities .