Abstract
A viscoelastic aquifer model, proposed earlier by the authors, is applied to analyze and predict the piezometric drawdown and the compaction observed in a major confined aquifer system in the San Joaquin Valley in California. A field approach is used based on a minimal number of ‘bulk’ parameters. These parameters, which are the transmissivity, the compressibilities of primary and secondary consolidation, and the viscosity of the secondary consolidation, were derived by calibration of the model by means of trial and error simulation of 2 years of records of drawdown and compaction. It was found that in the absence of drawdown records the identification may also be accomplished with compaction records in addition to a standard pumping test. Comparison of computed results with available records shows that the viscoelastic model yields a satisfactory prediction of compaction which is far better than that obtainable with the elastic model of the classical Theis‐Jacob approach. The elastic model may be adequate to represent the hydraulic properties of the aquifer in the analysis of the piezometric drawdown; however, it appears to be unsatisfactory to represent the mechanical properties of the aquifer as related to surface subsidence.
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