Flow nets from finite element data

Finite element solutions for steady-state flow of fluids through porous media do not include an explicit develpoment of the flow net, and many engineers find this lack frustrating. To solve for the stream function, the analyst can use essentially the same finite element routines as he used for the potential, but the matrix corresponding to the hydraulic conductivity is not the inverse of the conductivity. Contouring the potential and the stream function is done element by element; certain anomalous situations are described in an appendix.