Using Solver to Estimate Aquifer Parameters for Non-Leaky and Leaky Unsteady Confined Aquifer Tests

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2013 Using Solver to Estimate Aquifer Parameters for Non-Leaky and Leaky Unsteady Confined Aquifer Tests CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN 1 School of Engineering, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 1Corresponding author phone: (904) 620-2811, email: Christopher.j.brown@unf.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN 1 School of Engineering, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 1Corresponding author phone: (904) 620-2811, email: Christopher.j.brown@unf.edu. Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 © 2013 Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2013) 19 (3): 253–263. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.19.3.253 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN; Using Solver to Estimate Aquifer Parameters for Non-Leaky and Leaky Unsteady Confined Aquifer Tests. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2013;; 19 (3): 253–263. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.19.3.253 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract Aquifer testing of confined aquifers has been used for many years to aid with the determination of the key aquifer parameters, including transmissivity, storativity, and leakance. A myriad of published methodologies have been previously developed. Some of these solutions have led to the development of expensive, proprietary software. Others require development of complex numerical models, while still others require complex calculus using inverse Laplace transforms or numerical inversion. Two common aquifer testing problems are the determination of aquifer parameters for non-leaky and leaky confined aquifers. A simple alternative approach using new computer tools can be used to estimate the aquifer parameters for both non-leaky and leaky confined aquifers given transient drawdown data from a nearby observation well. The proposed alternative methodology uses Microsoft Excel and Solver to inverse model likely best-fit aquifer parameters. The approach does not require Visual Basic or Visual Basic Assistant (VBA) programming or numerical inversion. It adapts recently published analytical approaches and uses a simple least-squares error minimization approach using the sum of square terms in combination with the evolutionary genetic solution algorithm available in Solver. It is particularly useful for teaching undergraduate geoscience or engineering majors due to its accessibility. The results provided compare favorably to other published methods. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.