Title: Assessing the effectiveness of analytical and numerical inverse modelling approach for slug tests interpretation

Authors: Francesco Chidichimo; Michele De Biase; Carmine Fallico; Samuele De Bartolo; Mario Ianchello; Salvatore Straface

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 41B – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy ' Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 41B – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 42B – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy ' Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Ecotekne Center – 73100 Monteroni (LE), Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 42B – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy ' Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 41B – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy

Abstract: Groundwater management or remediation requires the knowledge of the main hydrodynamic parameters of the hydrological system. The aim of the study focused on the investigation of the reliability of the methods used for the estimation of these important parameters. Several pumping and slug tests were performed in the Hydraulics Laboratory of University of Calabria, where a high controlled experimental apparatus was designed and constructed. The data collected during the experiments have been used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and the storage coefficient of the porous medium. The analysis was carried out both through classical analytical methods and by the development of an ad hoc three-dimensional finite element model of the apparatus working in transient conditions. An extreme variability in the results was observed but the estimates obtained by the inverse numerical modelling were the ones returning, on average, the best outcomes among all the characterisation methods.

Keywords: slug tests interpretation; analytical solutions; numerical inverse modelling; groundwater; laboratory experiments; hydrodynamic properties; hydraulic conductivity estimation; storage coefficient estimation; characterisation techniques.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2021.114549

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2021 Vol.11 No.3, pp.282 - 300

Received: 06 Oct 2018
Accepted: 05 Aug 2019
Published online: 27 Apr 2021 *

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