Abstract: The development process of hydrodynamics of groundwater in the 150 years since Darcy’s law was published was reviewed. Based on the governing equation and computation method of seepage problem of the classical theory, the application and development of hydrodynamics of groundwater was briefly introduced from four aspects: groundwater resources evaluation, quality or heat transmission in groundwater flow system, unsaturated flow and computation of groundwater hydrodynamics. The scale effect of hydrogeologic parameters, unsaturated flow, non-continuum flow and freesurface seepage in the current research status was briefly summarized. By coupling these findings with the basic characteristics of the classical theory, the developing tendency of present hydrodynamics of groundwater is discussed. Based on the summary of the development process of Biot coupling flow theory, the disadvantages of the present coupling flow theory were treated by the seepage elements, however by combing with Biot wave theory, one possible method for solving this disadvantage is proposed.

Key words: hydrodynamics of groundwater, classic theory, Biot poroelastic theory, coupling flow, seepage element