Estimates of backwater and drying levels in a hydrodynamic model (Q1183871)

The form of an irrigation system is determined from the condition of an extremal value of the backwater or water-table lowering subject to isoperimetric constraints. The unknown functionals and equations of the extremals are written down in explicit form on the basis of the method of Lagrangian multipliers. A hydrodynamic model is used to estimate the raising of the ground-water level due to seepage from a channel, its lowering by a drain, and the seepage pressure force on the foundation near a reservoir. It is important that these estimates are obtained by solving problems of constructive type, i.e., problems in which the arrangement of the system (supply, water receiving, or topping-up contour) is not specified in advance but is found as an extremal of an isoperimetric problem.