title: Slug tests in the presence of background head trends.
abstract: We extend Bouwer and Rice (1976) slug test theory to incorporate background head trends that may be important in incompressible material of low permeability k. The extension, which features a convolution integral of the background head, is closed form for linear trends. A sensitivity study suggests that a rising background head can diminish the head changes associated with a slug-out test and underestimate k if it is ignored, as does falling background trend with a slug-in test. A falling background head can reinforce slug-in test head change and, if ignored, can overestimate k, as does a rising background head with a slug-out test. The simple extension is verified by field tests in glacial till and stratified drift deposits in eastern Massachusetts.
authors.affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ostendorf
authors.forename: Don J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: DeGroot
mesh_terms: D056448:Earth Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D008404:Massachusetts; D014881:Water Supply